The Voices of D.C. Everest Students: Improving Mental Health and Wellness Resources
WIPPS Research Partners has helped the D.C. Everest School District conduct a series of small group discussions with students to gather in-depth information about their experiences with school during the 2020-2021 school year and to obtain a greater understanding of students’ mental health needs.
This project was conducted in partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin with funding provided by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Students met in small virtual to discuss a range of topics, including:
- What concerns do students have about how school is going so far this year? What is going well?
- Where are students turning for mental health help and support? What kinds of support do students say they need?
- What are the barriers or reasons why students may not be accessing mental health resources within their schools?
- What ideas or suggestions do students have to improve how schools are supporting their mental health needs?
- What do students want parents, teachers and school leaders to know about how they feel about school this year?
By compiling and sharing this information with D.C. Everest administrators, teachers, and staff, the “voices” of students helped inform the district’s decisions about how to support students during these challenging times, including suggestions for improving access to mental health and wellness resources.