Governor Sanders, along with Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva, called on Arkansas school districts to participate in his administration’s mental health pilot program.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Tuesday joined Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva in calling on Arkansas school districts to participate in the state’s mental health pilot program.
A letter was sent to school superintendents across the state outlining how the program will work to address the symptoms of youth mental illness and one of its biggest causes: social media and screen addiction.
“The Natural State is not unique. Depression, anxiety and isolation among young people are on the rise nationwide. But we do “We have a unique opportunity to work together to address this crisis,” they wrote. “We are pleased to announce a pilot program focused on two critical priorities: limiting cell phone use on school grounds and providing mental health care.”
The creation of the pilot program will provide funding to all secondary schools that apply to provide students with pouches to store their mobile phones during class, in the hope of reducing screen addiction and social media use.
The program also funds mental health services via telehealth and provides assistance with finding mental health providers, connecting families, students and school staff to substance abuse care, mental and behavioral health care and social services, and addressing insurance concerns.
On average, American teens spend nearly five hours a day on social media, usually on their phones, including while at school, which is why the Governor is now prioritizing improving the mental health and reducing screen addiction among Arkansas teens.
To read the full letter sent by Governor Sanders and Secretary Oliva, click here.
