Commonwealth Policy Center

Students across the state of Kentucky are pushing lawmakers to expand mental health services offered at schools after surveys show that anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts have been on the rise. The students gave a list of recommendations, which included educating students and teachers on mental health. When asked if these recommendations are too much for teachers, Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman said, “We don’t have the luxury of not teaching the whole child anymore.” But what exactly is meant by teaching the whole student? And does it include religion? After all, we have spiritual needs. Many argue that the mental health crisis is really a spiritual crisis, and this is an implicit call for the Church to engage in this crisis.