Empowering Minds: Shifting Perspectives on Mental Health in Schools

Dr. Matthew Fuller meets with Francesca Newman, a Licensed Professional Counselor at Humble ISD, and Corporal Jeffery Vadzemneiks, Mental Health Officer at Humble ISD. Together, we explore the essential elements of maintaining secure classrooms, advocating for mental health, forming partnerships with the local police department and mental health team, and implementing de-escalation tactics in classrooms. Our guests share insights from their extensive experiences within the education system, highlighting their endeavors to destigmatize mental health. This includes reshaping policies, building student-led initiatives, fostering connections within the school community, overcoming educational barriers in assessing mental health resources and program development, and creating conversations around safety and security. They emphasize the importance of building a sense of community, ensuring that at least one person within the school is a trusted figure for students.