The Maine Association of School Nurses applauds the effort of the Bangor Daily News to raise awareness of student mental health issues in its Oct. 4 editorial. The association supports the recommendation for more resources in schools to address student mental health needs. The National Association of School Nurses in its position statement mental health of students states that “ mental health is as critical to academic success as physical well-being.”
As first responders for physical and mental “first aid,” registered professional school nurses work on the front lines, and they are familiar with the prevalence of anxiety, depression, self-harm, substance abuse and suicidality among our youth. The top five health conditions of children in the United States are mental health problems, according to the National Association of School Nurses. School nurses spend an estimated 32 percent of their time providing mental health services.
School nurses understand that frequent student health office visits or physical complaints can be the sign of underlying mental, psychosocial or emotional issues. We are uniquely qualified to identify students with mental health issues. Using a holistic approach, school nurses provide ongoing assessment, intervention and follow-up in collaboration with school personnel, community health care professionals, families and students.
School nurses understand that a student’s health is directly related to his or her ability to learn. Children with unmet physical or mental health needs have difficulty engaging in the educational process. Joycelyn Elders, a former U.S. surgeon general, wrote, “You can’t educate a child who isn’t healthy, and you can’t keep a child healthy who isn’t educated.” The school nurse serves in the pivotal role that bridges health care and education.
The role of the school nurse has expanded significantly since 1902, when Lina Rogers was hired as the first school nurse in New York City to reduce absenteeism by intervening in regards to communicable diseases. As a specialized practice of public health nursing, school nurses advances the well-being, academic success and lifelong achievement and health of students. The increasing number of students with chronic health issues, such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, food allergies, obesity and mental health concerns, require school nurses to provide evidence-based practice to keep students healthy, safe and ready to learn.
There are more than 350 school nurses certified through the Maine Department of Education that provide health services for more than 170,000 students attending public and private schools in Maine. Many school nurses cover multiple schools or are hired only part time. Maine Association of School Nurses, National Association of School Nurses and the American Academy of Pediatrics believe it is essential that all students have access to a full-time school nurse all day, every day. This is an essential step in meeting the physical and mental health needs of Maine’s school children.
Ilmi Carter is president of the Maine Association of School Nurses. She is a nationally certified school nurse and practices at Oceanside High School and Owls Head Central School. Janis Hogan is the Maine director for the National Association of School Nurses. She is a nationally certified school nurse and practices at Camden Hills Regional High School.