Above: Left to right: Lindsey Keatan, Granada Huntley East Chain (GHEC) Social Worker Kari McGregor, and GHEC Middle and High School Principal Taylor Topinka. Keithahn recently started offering interpersonal therapy sessions to GHEC students.

Granada – The Granada Huntley East Chain (GHEC) School District has contracted outpatient therapist Lindsey Khetan to provide school-linked mental health services to students. Under the terms of the contract, Keithahn will visit her GHEC for weekly one-on-one face-to-face sessions.

These sessions are not free, but financial assistance is available for students who do not have insurance or are otherwise unable to pay for the costs. The purpose of this agreement is to improve access to mental health services for GHEC students by removing barriers that may prevent students from receiving mental health treatment.

There can be many barriers for students experiencing mental health issues. They may not be able to get treatment due to financial problems, transportation difficulties, or the lack of mental health professionals in their area. These barriers can be particularly acute in rural areas contained within the GHEC District, where students may need to travel to Mankato, Rochester, or the Twin Cities for face-to-face therapy sessions.

“When I go to a counseling center, I have to wait three months, but here I can see my kids every week.” GHEC social worker Kari McGregor said.

If barriers prevent students from receiving treatment, untreated mental health problems can impair learning outcomes for both students and their peers. While the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened student mental health, McGregor said there was a need to improve mental health services in schools even before the pandemic.

“We need to make sure our children’s mental health is on a stable footing so they can thrive.” McGregor said.

Mental health treatment in school settings differs significantly from treatment for adults.

One of the challenges of working with students is the difficulty in identifying mental health issues. Symptoms may not appear immediately and can be difficult to tie to a specific cause without formal evaluation.

“It might say, ‘I’m not doing my homework,’ or ‘I’m fighting with my friends at school.’ Kitan said.

Ultimately, if the cause of the great distress can be treated, the child can be referred to counseling.

“Look at how much it impacts … on that child’s life, even if its roots are not always known.” Kitan said.

Keithahn says the two most common problems she works with her students are anxiety and subsequent depression.

School-linked therapy also has some significant advantages. In addition to making mental health treatment more accessible, school-linked services allow therapists to work directly with teachers and parents to address students’ needs outside of therapy sessions.

“The biggest difference is that we are open to using a team approach, including parents, school staff and foster carers. are not very common.” Kitan said.

Once in a therapeutic environment, students may be more communicative than adults.

“Children can sometimes discern things and talk about facts better than adults.” Kitan said.

Keithahn can currently serve 3-4 students in half a day, but if there is enough demand, it could potentially serve 7-8 students in a day. She is typically available to work with students ages 5 and up and can work with parents and students in sessions when required.