It’s no secret that CoVID-19 has impacted more than one area of our lives. Among some of these changes include grocery shopping online, working from home, socializing in a socially distanced world, getting married, and attending school. The virus does not care what age you are, as it has drastically affected every age group across the board. Elderly people are more at risk and those residing in assisted living homes have not been able to have visitors. College students are attending school online (not quite the experience they imagined), family reunions and large holiday/celebration gatherings have been canceled and are being encouraged to be canceled, per the large number of people attending, and even our little ones have experienced change. Sports seasons have been canceled, many districts are only offering online schooling, and so forth.

Of course, our energy is focused on online education in Utah and specifically, the need for good counseling in these areas—especially with all that is going on in the world right now. While it is clear that every age group can benefit from such, let’s channel our energy toward secondary education.

Many of us can remember this time in our lives. Junior high through high school may have marked some of the best years of your life. Perhaps, you keep in touch with several of these friends. However, I think many will counter that these are some of the hardest years of a child’s life.

Kids are being sent messages from all over the media on various platforms. There is pressure to fit in and conform. There are bullies and consistent verbal attacks. Most kids have not quite found their self-confidence yet. The information age brings instant gratification and many of our young people struggle with focus and knowing how to turn off their electronics or hold legitimate conversations. Let’s not forget that our brains don’t fully form until our mid-twenties and kids have to make monumental decisions that will quite literally impact the rest of their lives (with this under-developed brain).

Now, let’s throw in CoVID and the fact that many of our kids are now going to school online. They’re now trying to balance this new direction that education has taken. They are taking intense high school classes online and that requires focus and diligence in their studies. They’re learning how to use new technology and trying to keep up with their core competencies. Because everything is online, they may begin to feel a little bit distant from their friends, as social interactions have changed.

This and all of these reasons are why it’s so important for strong counseling in secondary education. More than ever our children need direction. They need to be guided by professional people that have their best interests at heart. They need help dealing with all of the changes happening around the world right now and especially in our country.

As adults, it’s hard to grasp all of the changes 2020 has brought. And if you look at the suicide rates and the mental health crisis that is upon us here in Utah, it’s obvious to see that adults (full-grown men and women) are struggling to cope with society, natural disasters, elections, the pandemic, and so on. Imagine how it is for our children. They are trying to make sense of all of the things happening with their limited scope and abilities.

Professional counselors in a junior high and/or high school can make a great impact. They can offer encouragement via individual counseling sessions, as well as hold assemblies and classes for larger groups. Sometimes kids just need to be heard. Sometimes knowing that a friendly face is going to catch up with them and check on them throughout the week makes all the difference.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst said that 80% of students who sought out and participated in mental health services noted that said programs helped them stay in school and also, improved their academic performance. Counseling services will not only help with the mental health of students transitioning to online classes but also help them in other areas of their lives.

And online school does not have to be a hiccup. Counselors can hold Zoom calls with kids for one-on-one each week as needed. If they’re hosting a support group or a larger group, Zoom can also accomplish this task. There are many applications that can host such meetings.

Online education in Utah needs to continue to support its student population through counseling services. It’s especially critical for our secondary education students that are attending high school online. There is a myriad of platforms to support these services and make it possible to provide effective and impactful programs that will boost our kids and carry them through this pandemic. Taking online classes in Utah may be the way of the future, but they don’t have to hinder our children’s education or mental health. With the necessary tools in place and a solid counseling program, we can support our children as if no significant changes have confronted them.