For students in middle school and high school, change and growth are natural parts of evolving as young people. Even high performing students can face challenges to mental wellness that contribute to difficulties in school, and may even lead to long-term effects on social, economic, and health outcomes.
“We have been able to serve students and families more effectively because we have taken the time to build relationships.”
Throughout this formative period, schools serve as not only learning spaces, but also community hubs for students and families. In Durham, NC, students, families, schools, and key partners like the Durham Public Schools Foundation, the Durham County Department of Health, and Duke Health came together to answer the question: what does a public school look like where everyone has the resources and support they need for thriving mental and emotional health?
In response, the collaborative launched The WHOLE Schools Movement. Centered around four pillars – school wellness grants, training mental health ambassadors, investing in model schools, and expanding education around mental health – WHOLE Schools serves as a model approach to develop and deploy wellness resources, activate educator networks, create new capacity to prevent and address mental health challenges, and build student voices as leaders.
Listen to their story:
Learn more about the Durham partnership here.
