ALLENTOWN, PA, May 25, 2023 – Governor Josh Shapiro met with Parkland High School students in Lehigh County to hear about their mental health challenges and share his budget’s proposed investments to ensure that all Pennsylvania students have access to mental health resources in schools.
The Governor’s commonsense proposal includes $500 million over the next five years so that schools can fund mental health counselors and services onsite, prioritizing students’ mental health in addition to their physical health, and $20 million in 2023-24 – growing to $60 million annually by 2027-28 – to restore mental health funding to Pennsylvania counties, who provide critical community-based mental health services for residents.
“This generation is leading the way in changing how we talk about and address mental health care support for our youth. The students I met today are speaking up, breaking down the stigma, and asking for our help – and
I’ve heard them and am ready to work with them to find solutions,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Keeping our children safe is my top priority – and my budget offers comprehensive solutions to put more money into our schools and our communities to better serve students and their mental health. These investments in Pennsylvania students are critical – let’s work together to get this done and deliver for the students and families across our Commonwealth who need this help.”
Governor Shapiro hosted a roundtable with Parkland students, counselors, teachers, and administrators to hear about their experiences and challenges firsthand, and to discuss the mental health resources needed in Pennsylvania classrooms.
“I’ve made reducing mental illness the cornerstone of my career. That’s why I am so, so honored to be standing …
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