CAUSE, CORRELATION, AND THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE: MENTAL HEALTH

There is no question that voters are deeply concerned about the missteps on mental health and suicide in this district – a function of the failure to be informed by long-standing and well-described epidemiological trends in youth depression and anxiety. Unlike the reactive present leadership, we propose to create proactively a more inclusive, compassionate, and restorative climate with accountability and to screen and implement high risk interventions through schools. Teen suicide is a national crisis, but it is much more acute in Pearland ISD, with a rate 1.5x national average.

While as a physician scientist, I know that assigning cause is tricky and correlations can be abundant and spurious, here we also have the weight of the evidence.

1. IRRESPONSIBLE RESOURCE ALLOCATION: The school board decided in 2015 to disinvest in behavioral health coordinators. We have seen at least 7 suicides since that time in PISD (1.5x national average). SOLUTION: District campaign with accountability to create a culture of inclusion and a commitment to whole child health as a fiscal, social, and moral priority.

2. DEAFNESS TO COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS: Despite broad concern and a strong community coalition led by Chinese families demanding resolution of a toxic GPA system in 2017-2018, the only concession made for current students was a completely tangential longer lunch hour. SOLUTION: Move towards a GPA system that preferentially weights a limited number of AP classes. Be in continuous conversation with students about the best model with feedback after implementation.

3. PSEUDOSCIENCE TO DRIVE AN AGENDA: Exaltation about the value of struggle is gratuitous and unscientific. The kinds of stress that are healthy for development occur in a context of supportive relationships. But this is not part of the district ‘grit’ campaign, a pseudoscientific repackaging of the ‘bootstrap’ narrative. ‘Grit’ does, however, absolve the district of responsibility. Furthermore, if leadership is going to fetishize Asian culture (we are appalled), it must own the fact that stress related to education accounts for most youth suicide in South Korea, which has the highest rate of suicide among children ages 10-19 in the world. SOLUTION: Engage with professionally and culturally diverse community councils on data-driven policy.

3. MISHANDLING OF BULLYING: Bullying is known to be highly correlated with suicidal behaviors. We admire our Rise Mentorship program, which understands the critical importance of a community of caring. This should be central to district culture and practice in general. Families tell us repeatedly how bullying is mismanaged in PISD. SOLUTION: Implement defined guidelines to reduce risks for our children *including* a system of accountability for school personnel and administration. Explore restorative practices in our schools.

4. BLINDNESS TO VULNERABILITY: Students with learning disabilities or differences and LGBT youth are known to have much higher risk of suicidal behaviors. PISD has no targeted programs to ensure we address these vulnerabilities. SOLUTION: Bring students, parents, teachers, and behavioral health experts together through the School Health Advisory Council to make this a 2019-2020 priority.