Education and Justice Departments seek to safeguard students’ mental health in pandemic’s wake.
This week, in honor of World Mental Health Day, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Justice Department cooperatively outlined the importance of safeguarding the mental health of students. Their fact sheet addresses the need to “support students with mental health disabilities, their families, and their schools in the era of COVID-19.”
“The Department of Justice is committed to safeguarding the rights of students with mental health disabilities through vigorous enforcement of the civil rights laws, particularly given the continuing effects of the pandemic,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Students should be supported and not excluded from educational opportunities on the basis of disability.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on student mental health are widespread and deeply concerning,” said Education Department Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Suzanne Goldberg. “OCR is committed to providing resources to support students with mental health disabilities, including those who may be at risk for self-harm.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the Education Department officials seeking to support students’ mental health.
- For the Civil Rights Division personnel as they promote justice in mental health.
- For students all across the nation who have experienced a negative impact on their mental health as a result of COVID-19 protocols.
Sources: Department of Education
