Sussex Co. Health Coalition receives grant to target student mental health issues

Mental health is slowly but surely becoming a less taboo issue in the U.S. The Sussex County Health Coalition is recognizing this by helping local students.

They’re now entering their second phase of providing mental health prevention and early intervention opportunities to students in the Indian River, Cape Henlopen, and Woodbridge school districts in Sussex County.

Through a $95,000 grant from Highmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Delaware, the coalition will be developing universal referral forms that schools can use to identify students in need of mental health services. They will use the forms to link them to the right resources.

Peggy Geisler, the executive director of the Sussex County Health Coalition says, “I think that when we think of mental health, it’s not at the pre- end of it. Kids can be forced to deal with really hard social adult issues early on. They just really need someone to help them navigate those waters.”

The coalition has extended this partnership to the Seaford and Laurel school districts. However, they have not yet confirmed their participation.