Comal ISD forms mental health task force to address student concerns

A coalition of Comal ISD teachers, support staff, counselors, administrators and parents have begun holding regular meetings to pinpoint and address stress among students throughout the district.

In January, the task force released a survey to students, teachers and parents that aimed to identify key mental health-related stressors across grade levels, said Ruby Moseley, executive director of safety and student support for the district.

The group is slated to meet five times over the course of the semester to discuss the survey findings, evaluate intervention strategies and provide guidance on planning for the next school year, Moseley said.

“The first [meeting] is prioritizing those items and looking at the top three that were listed and then developing an implementation strategy, what we can realistically accomplish by the end of the school year,” she said.

Student focus groups will also be formed at six campuses across the district to further conversations around mental health, available resources and what students feel is needed to address key issues.

At Canyon High School, board trustee Tim Hennessee said students have already formed their own mental health club and worked with counselors and staff to host speakers and facilitate discussions.

The club also created a safe room that is open to anyone on campus.

“We all know that the social emotional side is integral to having a successful education and having successful students,” Hennessee said. “I'm excited that we're going to be able to offer them another avenue of support.”