Albemarle schools expands student mental health support through the summer months

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - For many students, mental health support does not just happen at home — it also happens at school.

Counselors. Routine. Someone checking in.

Now, Albemarle County Public Schools is working to keep some of that support available while students are away from campus by expanding virtual mental health services through the summer.

School may be ending for the year. But anxiety, stress, grief, and mental health struggles do not stop just because classes do.

Jason Grant, chief communications officer for ACPS, said mental health challenges can happen at any time.

“When it comes to mental health and the support for mental health, issues can arise at any time,” Grant said.

The district is partnering with Cartwheel, a virtual counseling service that connects students and families with licensed clinicians online from home.

ACPS said most major insurance plans are accepted, including Medicaid. The district also said there are immediate openings for counseling services.

Grant said the goal is to make sure students still have access to support once the structure of the school year is gone.

“Through summers we want to make certain that should students or their family members need any kind of mental health assistance or support, that we are there to be able to provide that support for them,” Grant said.

Families can access services through the ACPS HELPme system, which allows students and families to confidentially request support for mental health concerns, safety concerns, food, clothing, and other challenges.

To get started, families can use the “Resources” section inside the HELPme app or submit a referral directly through Cartwheel. After a referral is submitted, a Cartwheel team member will follow up to schedule an intake appointment.

Parents and guardians can request telehealth counseling for their children, and students 18 and older can request support for themselves.

For immediate emotional distress or crisis situations, families are encouraged to call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

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