More mental health resources are available to students in Cherry Creek Schools, thanks to an expansion of the partnership between the school district and Hazel Health. Parents or guardians can now sign up their students for virtual, telehealth appointments at school and at home.
“The ability to help students find services immediately is so meaningful,” said Prairie Middle School social worker John Brewer. “For many students, mental health can feel like a pressure valve and with timely interventions, we can ensure that students receive assistance before they hit the crisis point.”
The partnership, which was launched last year for students in middle and high school, has seen very positive results. Dr. Lisa Geissler, a school psychologist at Cherry Creek High School, noted that the increase in mental health concerns means it’s especially critical to provide resources and support for students. Starting in the 2023-24 school year, Hazel Health is available for CCSD students in grades K-12.
“Hazel has been instrumental in providing much-needed, flexible services to students,” Geissler shared. “By removing some of the bureaucracy and difficulties with accessing mental health services, we've improved accessibility for a wider range of students. The more students we can reach, the better chance we have at improving the mental health of our community."
Parents or guardians can sign up for appointments through Hazel’s website, and mental health staff have already seen a large number of requests for support this year, affirming the need and showing how valuable these services are to the community.
“I appreciate Hazel Health’s ability to increase access for students to mental health resources,” said Andre Bala, principal at Smoky Hill High School. “As we’ve made our way through this pandemic, we’ve been able to reduce the stigma attached to receiving mental health help, allowing our students to openly address their needs so they can find the best ways to thrive.”
Posted 10/6/23.
