In addition to students losing learning time in 2020, South Summit Superintendent Greg Maughan said the pandemic also took a toll on them mentally.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in the amount of resources needed around mental health, and we’re doing what we can to provide those resources,” Maughan said on “Local News Hour.”
Demand has remained high years after the COVID-19 virus emerged, and new changes to Summit County’s mental health care system could help.
While renegotiating its mental and behavioral health care contract with University of Utah providers, the county government decided to manage school-based services in-house.
Maughan said South Summit hired two social workers after the start of the pandemic. It also has a district psychologist.
Since taking over management of mental and behavioral health services in schools, Summit County has also staffed the district with people who are studying to become providers.
“Specifically, they have students who are pursuing college programs to become social workers, so they are helping too,” Maughan said. “So we have more support than ever, which is a good thing.”
Maughan said he doesn’t anticipate demand for support services to slow down.
Article translated by Caterina Erlinger.
