MARSHALL — There’s a growing need for mental health services at Marshall Public Schools, school staff said this week.

“We’re definitely seeing that with who’s coming through the doors in our offices,” said Shirley Greenfield, a counselor at Marshall High School.

It was also reflected in responses Marshall ninth and 11th grade students gave to statewide surveys in recent years.

“There was an uptick, with students who said they have had mental health, behavioral or emotional problems that have lasted six months or more,” Greenfield said.

In a 2022 survey taken by MHS students, close to 25% of ninth grade students reported not being able to stop worrying in previous two weeks, compared to 21.1% of ninth graders in 2019. In 2022, 23.1% of MHS juniors also reported not being able to control or stop worrying.

Counselors at MHS, together with staff from Greater Minnesota Family Services, spoke at Tuesday’s meeting of the Marshall School Board. They talked about some of the mental health resources available in the school district — and also pointed out the need for those services.

In addition to the data from the student surveys, counselor Cassie Rogotzke said staff have seen an increase in mental health issues among MHS students. That included students with depression and anxiety, substance use problems, truancy or even addiction to technology.

The survey data MHS counselors shared was collected as part of the Minnesota Student Survey, a statewide survey administered by the Minnesota Department of Education every three years. The surveys ask about a wide range of student behaviors, including mental health concerns.

“With the increase in services and numbers, is it because we’re offering more services now? Or are kids in more crisis? Or is it both?” asked school board member Jeff Chapman.

“I’m going to say yes to all those things,” Greenfield said. “I think it’s a combination of things, students knowing and being more open about it, and also our teachers and administration, nurses, knowing it’s an option and making more referrals.”

MHS has a total of three counselor positions, covered by four counselors, Rogotzke said. Together, those four counselors serve a total of 906 high school students.

Greenfield said the three main areas that high school counselors work in include academic counseling, helping students plan for their lives after high school, and counseling on social and emotional issues. On a typical day, counselors might do everything from meeting with a student struggling with classes, to helping with a college application, or talking with a student who is upset about a relationship.

Greenfield and Rogotkze said MHS counselors were on track to have more than 3,000 contacts with students, parents or teachers this year. As of Jan. 10, there had been 1,322 counselor contacts at the high school.

One service school counselors provide is to help refer students or families to other agencies that can help, Rogotzke said. One such group is Greater Minnesota Family Services.

“We provide a variety of different mental health services,” said GMFS program coordinator Liza Davis. “The agency is a CTSS (Children’s Therapeutic Supports and Services) provider. We’re in about 90 school locations, and we also do a lot of in-home work and early childhood.”

There are a total of nine GMFS staff working at MPS’ five school locations. A total of 234 Marshall students were seen for services in the 2022-23 school year.

Davis said GMFS starts by doing diagnostic assessments for children and families.

“And then our staff create individual treatment plans,” Davis said.

“The school-linked mental health program has really increased in the last couple years,” Davis said. “The needs have really increased, and there’s a lot of positive things that come with partnering with schools.”

In addition to partnering with school staff, the agency also provides targeted case management if a family needs additional help beyond therapy services, said Kimberly Dragstra, a GMFS staff member.

“That is really if they’re not getting the help and assistance of the county already,” she said.

“We provide services 12 months a year,” at no cost to families, Davis said.

Greenfield said the numbers of students being served by the partnership with GMFS have been growing over the past six years. In the 2022-23 school year, 70 students were referred to GMFS.