Moncks Corner, S.C. – As students prepare to return to class this fall, the Berkeley County School District is introducing a significant expansion in school-based mental health services. Starting this year, 42 out of 47 schools in the district will have a licensed clinician directly available on campus.
What’s Changing?
District officials believe this change will greatly improve how students receive mental health support. Dr. Kylon Middleton, the district’s Chief Officer of Student Support Services, explained, “Having clinicians in schools will make a huge impact. It allows us to hire specialists who can work directly with students, offering therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy, tailored to their needs.”
New Partnerships to Expand Services
This effort is part of a long-term plan to provide mental health services directly within school buildings. The district is partnering with licensed independent practitioners, including a new partner, Trusted Results Therapy, a local group offering their services starting this year.
Middleton explained, “These practitioners want to continue working in private practice but also want to contribute to school-based services. Having a list of independent practitioners gives us access to a wider pool of experts to choose from.”
Previous Challenges and Changes
Before this expansion, the district relied heavily on Berkeley Mental Health, but the staffing was limited, making it difficult to serve every school. Middleton noted that while the district wanted to provide services to every student, barriers such as fees have sometimes created challenges. However, he mentioned that clinicians have been flexible, using sliding scale fees or securing state grants to reduce costs for families.
Rising Demand for Mental Health Services
This expansion comes as the district reports an increase in mental health needs among students. Last school year, counselors held more than 57,000 one-on-one sessions and had nearly 70,000 contacts with parents. Middleton said, “Students are facing higher levels of anxiety and other issues that affect their ability to focus and succeed in school.”
Support for School Staff
While the focus is on helping students, the district is also working to support the well-being of staff. Middleton added, “It’s important to provide our staff with opportunities to recharge so they can continue to support our students effectively.”
A Whole-Child Approach
The mental health services are part of a larger commitment by the district to focus on the whole child, addressing not only academic needs but also emotional and behavioral health. The Student Support Services division, based at the Fishburne Education Center in Moncks Corner, oversees this initiative.
As the school year begins, Berkeley County’s push to expand mental health services reflects the growing recognition of the importance of emotional and behavioral support for students. With more counselors and expanded services, the district aims to ensure that every student has the support they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
