For too long, there has been a stigma around mental health care — but that’s changing with this generation. Students across the commonwealth aren’t afraid to talk about their mental health and that’s what I hear every day.
When I visited Parkland High School in Allentown this week, students bravely told me about their mental health struggles, but they also shared with me their ideas for how we can help. It’s on us to hear them and tackle this crisis head on.
That’s why, in my first budget, I am calling for a significant down payment in mental health support to serve the needs of all Pennsylvanians, but especially our kids. Simply put, Pennsylvania needs more counselors; parents and teachers can’t do it alone. My budget includes $500 million over the next five years to increase the mental health support in Pennsylvania schools, and allows schools to use that funding