House kills bill to require mental health education

A Senate bill proposing the implementation of mental health education in Virginia public schools failed in the House after a party-line vote on Feb. 18.

The bill, SB 818, would require all Virginia public schools to introduce mental health education curricula beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. These curricula would be based on grade level for students to have age-appropriate recommendations for combating mental health complications.

Sen. Lionell Spruill, D-Chesapeake, proposed the bill after a 6-year-old boy shot his teacher in Newport News. Spruill hopes to address the thinking about “bad” students and gun violence in schools with this bill, he said.

Del. Jackie Glass, D-Norfolk, who was a co-patron of SB 818 from the House, thinks public schools are a good place to start mental health education.

“The public school system is the perfect place, with the sort of challenges that young people, our little citizens, are facing, to teach these things, right, to teach how to communicate when you’re feeling a certain way, to teach how to problem solve when you’re in conflict,” she said.

Currently, Virginia code relating to mental health education in public schools pertains to higher education only. § 23.1-802 of the Virginia Constitution states that public institutions of higher education must develop and implement policies that advise and train students, faculty and staff on how to identify and assist students who may be exhibiting suicidal ideology.

SB 818 would provide similar legislation for K-12 public schools. This bill would amend § 22.1-207, which requires age-appropriate physical health education with no mention of mental health education.

Spruill’s intention with this bill was to have accessible counseling and mental health staff in schools for students to discuss their mental health concerns with, he said.

Glass’ experience of having a class in middle school that provided the opportunity to talk about personal concerns made the decision to support this bill obvious, she said.

“For me, it was an easy support because on my lived experiences, I felt like I had that opportunity [to talk about mental health],” Glass said. “As a young person and as a teenager, I know I was an emotional idiot.”

However, Virginia public schools have endured a shortage in teachers and staff since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This has concerned legislators advocating for SB 818 and other bills regarding increased mental health support in schools.

“The only worry is … having the human capital to be able to execute [mental health education],” Glass said. “How do we have the people in the space, in the places, to make sure it’s done, and done as a way that doesn’t strain our already strained system, and also give our little citizens what they need.”

The fight in the 2023 session to add mental health education to public school curricula began in the House with HB 2388, a bill proposed by Del. Marcia Price, D-Newport News. Since Price’s bill was laid on the table, SB 818 was the Senate Democrats’ attempt to force the Education Committee to reconsider.

Despite the loss in committee, Spruill will continue to advocate for Virginia’s young population, he said.

“Can you imagine [having mental health counseling in schools]? How many kids can be helped and be saved,” Spruill said.