Dr. Curtis Wright, Vice President of Student Affairs at Xavier University of Louisiana, presents at Senate Hearing on Youth Mental Health. In his testimony, he describes how the “prevalence of anxiety and depression is rising across the nation, particularly among young people,” and that, “college students of all ages are more distressed than ever.” In sharing ways to address student mental health challenges, Dr. Wright discusses how to educate parents on what they should do to support their student. In his written testimony to the Committee, Dr. Wright discusses Nearpeer as a successful approach and partner to Xavier University of Louisiana.
In this U.S. Senate hearing, mental health practitioners, educators and students testified on the mental health needs of kids and teenagers before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Children and Families. The witnesses discussed a variety of topics, including the need to destigmatize mental health issues and increase health care access, providing pre-kindergarten mental health care services, and training school staff, students and family members to detect the beginning signs of mental illness. They also addressed mental health care needs during the transition from high school to college.