By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

The Parkland School board has approved an agreement with St. Luke’s Physicians Group Inc. to provide mental health support for students and staff.

The program will supply individual evaluation, assessment, therapy and medication management to any kindergarten through 12th grade student who is struggling with a behavioral health issue.

The St. Luke’s endeavor is known as YESS! which stands for Your Emotional Strength Supported.

The arrangement will include access to a psychiatrist, psychologists, and advanced practitioners with specialized training who are licensed and certified.

St. Luke’s will provide support staff for registration, intake and scheduling. A psychiatrist will be on call for urgent referrals.

St. Luke’s University Health Network reports 20 percent of children and adolescents have a mental health problem, 50 percent of adult mental health issues start before age 14, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among children and adolescents.

The St. Luke’s account indicates the most commonly diagnosed mental afflictions in children are Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, behavioral problems, anxiety and depression.

St. Luke’s will provide a counselor who will dedicate time at the high school and Orefield and Springhouse middle schools.

District staff will work with St. Luke’s personnel to schedule students with a minimum of interruption to class time.

St. Luke’s will make available on site psychotherapy for district employees.

The YESS! program is contributed at no cost to the school district.

Payment will be from student insurance. No one will be turned away for lack of insurance coverage.

St. Luke’s noted charity care will be sought for individuals not covered by insurance.

Parkland’s Director of Community Relations and Development Nicole McGalla stated the YESS! program will take the place of the previous district system which had various counselors coming into work with students on mental health issues.