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Connecticut’s Congressional leaders pushing for more mental health funding in schools

U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes introduce ‘Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act’

WATERBURY, Conn. — Federal leaders are pushing for the approval of a new bill to get more money for mental health assistance in schools. Leading the charge, are Connecticut’s two congresswomen—Rosa DeLauro and Jahana Hayes. On Thursday, the two visited West Side Middle School in Waterbury to spread awareness for the legislation.

“There would be funds available, grants available to the schools to be able to recruit and retain mental health providers,” DeLauro said.

DeLauro said she and Hayes are working on garnering support for the bill, and the funds have not been mapped out yet. On Thursday, the two heard from Waterbury students about the importance of the investment.

“If it wasn’t for the guidance counselors and support staff in the school, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Nadina Bhadrasan, a junior at Waterbury Arts Magnet School.

Like so many other students, Bhadrasan described recently hitting what she calls a “low point” with her mental health.

“I was trying so hard to do well in school, I wanted perfect grades. And it got to the point where I was overworking myself, I was working hours a day on homework,” Bhadrasan said.

That was until one of her teachers brought it to the attention of the school counselor, who intervened.

“I definitely think I’ve changed since then. I’m never going to go back to overworking myself to that level,” Bhadrasan said.

The only problem is, there are not enough people like the counselors who helped Bhadrasan to deal with the magnitude of the issue in schools. It’s why Waterbury’s Superintendent, Dr. Verna Ruffin, hopes the new legislation becomes a reality. If passed, she hopes to create a new partnership with local colleges to beef up their mental health professional inventory.

“To secure a pipeline of potential hires that we can invest in and that we can help prepare and train and hire for Waterbury Public Schools,” Ruffin said.

It would add to the arsenal of services the district does have, which includes at least one counselor in every school, social workers, a program through an outside provider, and a brand new 24/7 mental health walk-in center in downtown Waterbury, the Wellmore Urgent Child Crisis Center.

“It’s a menu of services. It’s simply not enough,” Ruffin said.

RELATED: CT DCF rolls out new program to better serve children in need

The menu, Ruffin hopes, would only grow with this opportunity, ultimately helping more students like Bhadrasan

“They have made me a lot happier, and I think I’m at the happiest I’ve ever been in school because of them,” Bhadrasan said.

At this point, the legislation is just a proposal but, Connecticut’s leaders are working to get the bipartisan support they need to move it forward. Read more about the act here.

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Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on FacebookX and Instagram.

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