Charleston Leader

The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) has announced a new resource to support student mental health, coinciding with National Mental Health Awareness Month. ParentGuidance.org, an online platform available 24/7, aims to assist families, educators, and caregivers in promoting mental wellness and self-care. The platform's tools are designed to strengthen the human connections essential for thriving school communities.

ParentGuidance.org collaborates with schools across the United States to empower families in addressing children's mental health needs. In West Virginia, access to these resources is now free due to a three-year contract between WVDE and the national nonprofit The Cook Center for Human Connection. Available tools include regular one-on-one parent coaching with cognitive behavioral health coaches, on-demand parenting sessions taught by licensed therapists, and a frequently updated "Ask a Therapist" forum.

The initiative responds to a critical need identified by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2021 when it declared a national emergency in child and adolescent healthcare. Professionals are increasingly dealing with high rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, loneliness, and suicidality among young people.

West Virginia faces a shortage of traditional mental health services; over 700,000 residents live in areas lacking sufficient mental health professionals. ParentGuidance.org aims to bridge this gap by providing accessible support regardless of financial means. Counties can also customize professional development sessions through The Cook Center at reduced costs for issues such as bullying mitigation and absenteeism.

State Superintendent Michele L. Blatt highlighted the significance of this resource: "Our educators are experiencing several mental health behaviors in our children that they have not seen previously. ParentGuidance.org will provide resources that have never been reasonably available to many West Virginia families and communities."

Anne Brown, President and CEO of The Cook Center for Human Connection, expressed pride in collaborating with WVDE: "This shows that they truly care about the role of parents in their children’s emotional well-being."

West Virginia families can learn more through local county websites as plans roll out statewide or directly via Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Children or ParentGuidance.org.

The Cook Center for Human Connection focuses on preventing suicide and supporting youth mental health through grants to schools and global resources like My Life Is Worth Living™, an animated series on teen mental health and suicide prevention.

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