GO MUSTANGS

August 16, 2018

Monday was the first day of school for students on the west end of Montrose County. But their teachers, custodians, and bus drivers returned last week for a class of their own—in Youth Mental Health First Aid.

RE-2 Superintendent Mike Epright and all 51 of his employees spent their first day back at work learning how to spot the signs of a mental health disorder and how to respond appropriately. Tri-County Health Network, which provided the training, said the school district may be the first in the state to make such a commitment.

We hope it’s not the last.

Our new School Mental Health Toolkit spells out a set of strategies, including funding options, for improving students’ mental health. We aim to reach every school in Colorado; learn how you can help.

It will take all of us to lift our state from its embarrassingly low ranking: 48th in youth mental health. The staff in at least one school district is leading the way.

-Andrew Romanoff