Mental Health services expand in Osseo Schools

According to the CDC 1 out of 7 U.S. children aged 2 to 8 years had a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder.

This year, Osseo area schools are addressing the issue of mental health. They district is bringing mental health services inside schools through a new partnership.

The smiling faces of children are thought to be care free. Just like adults, kids to have their battles with mental health as well.

“I would say that the mental health need is very strong in Osseo and just in the state in general,” says Max Utterberg one of the full time therapist now working in the Osseo school district.  “I am very glad that the awareness is increasing and that we are getting services accessible to kids.”

All Osseo schools will now have a licensed therapist on campus every single day. The Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health & Wellbeing are the providers.

“Our school work really goes back to our origins as an organization,” added Rob Edwards the executive director of the Lee Carlson Center. “Really, the idea was that students are encountering challenges that they need help with. If we tied in with them at schools, and we were on the forefront of that very early on in the organizations history.”

Now, the nonprofit serves 55 schools across seven districts in the north metro. The expansion comes through increased state funding.

 “I think what law makers realized at the capitol that this was a great program that we were implementing,” says Edwards. “Over the last 5 years of programming that was offered in the state, politicians saw the response was positive. They wanted to expand this and make sure that it reached every part of the communities across Minnesota.”

More People Aware of Mental Health Needs

Stigma surrounding mental health has diminished over the years. More awareness and education has created more supports for services.

 “I think that in our country we are generally having an increased awareness for mental health,” added Utterberg. “That’s something that is really great. I also think that increased awareness has really lead to an increase in access to service like us.”

With increased awareness, mental health facilities like the Lee Carlson Center hope to expand in to other schools in the future.

“We want to eliminate barriers to access,” added Edwards. “If we are doing that, we feel like we are doing well by serving the community.”

If you are interested in learning about the services the Lee Carlson Center has to offer visit their website.

Learn more about Mental Health and the issues surrounding it in a CCX News Special Report, “The Silent Struggle: Talking about Mental Health.”