News from around the nation.

A New mental-health checklist aims to support returning Florida students; Survey: Connecticut Educators Burned out from Ongoing Teacher Shortage; 8 Hour Strike in Israel Lays Bare Anger Over Hostage Killings.

Transcript

The Public News Service Monday afternoon update for Labor Day 2024, I'm Mike Clifford.

With mental health challenges on the rise among young people, school-based services have become a critical component in addressing these issues.

A new checklist from the advocacy group, Inseparable, guides parents and educators to ensure that kids receive the mental health care they need.

The checklist outlines key areas for schools to focus on, such as staff training, availability of mental health professionals, and regular wellness checks to support student wellbeing.

Florida representative, Christine Huntschofsky, emphasizes the importance of reducing the stigma around mental health to encourage students to seek help when needed.

One of the biggest things is we have a stigma issue, not just in the state of Florida, but throughout the country.

I think the more we can do to combat that stigma issue, especially among our young people, the more likely they are to seek help when they need it.

Huntschofsky has actively promoted legislation to improve mental health services in schools, such as establishing the Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder, and ensuring every district has mental health coordinators to better coordinate care with external providers.

Currently, half of students aged 12 to 17 with depression are not receiving treatment due to stigma, cost, transportation, and other barriers.

I'm Tramell Gomes.

The checklist covers training for teachers and staff in mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention.

And as Connecticut's school year begins, the state is still dealing with a teacher shortage.

Almost every subject area is facing a statewide shortage, and it's uncertain when school districts might see some relief.

A new survey shows 97 percent of educators list burnout as a top concern, since they've had to contend with growing class sizes and wearing many hats.

Kate Diaz with the Connecticut Education Association says this is a telling sign of the strain that teachers face.

We need every educator.

We don't produce enough educators in our education prep programs to support the retirement.

And so we need every educator to stay.

And so really digging in and trying to figure out how do we look at the role's responsibilities and figure out how to make this job more manageable.

Surveyed educators report considering early retirement or leaving teaching altogether at one third say they'll leave the field in the next five years.

They say better pay is the best way to address the issues, aligning salaries to reflect the level of education it takes to be a teacher. 40 percent reported having second jobs to cover the cost of living and to save money.

Next from the New York Times, thousands of primary schools in several municipalities, transport networks, and hospitals slowed or suspended operations across Israel on Monday as a partial labor strike to protest the government's war strategy in Gaza.

The Times reports the union leaders agreed to halt the strike at 2.30 local time, more than eight hours after it began.

After a court said they'd not given enough notice for the work stoppage to go ahead.

This is Public News Service.

National proposals to end taxes on tips might have mixed impacts on New Yorkers.

This would let workers keep more of their tips, but tipped workers don't earn enough income because they make a sub-minimum wage, which is $16 with tip credits in New York.

Saru J. Araman with One Fair Wage says both candidates are taking separate approaches to implementing these policies.

Trump's proposal also would provide that same tax exemption to hedge fund billionaires.

And Harris' proposal, you know, when she elevated it, did call for raising the minimum wage in addition to ending taxes on tips.

She adds the best way to implement this is by ending the sub-minimum wage.

Several states and cities have done this, but New York's bill faces opposition from groups like the New York Restaurant Association.

However, restaurants in different states are seeing dividends from paying workers a full minimum wage with tips.

Several states have ballot measures this year on possibly ending the sub-minimum wage.

I'm Edwin J. Vieira.

And a new report highlights girls in Indiana facing higher rates of bullying and sexual dating violence compared to boys.

The 2020 for Indiana Girl Report produced by the Indiana Youth Institute, Girl Coalition of Indiana, and Girl Scouts emphasizes the need for better mental health support and violence prevention in communities.

Tammy Silverman with Indiana Youth Institute says the report helps Hoosiers better understand all girls' experiences.

It's good to say this is what I know about those girls closest to me.

And how is that similar to or different from the experiences girls in other parts of our state are having?

That's why the data is great, 'cause it really checks our own biases.

While girls in the state excel academically, particularly in reading, they also experience significant challenges.

Nearly 17 percent of high school girls reported experiencing sexual dating violence, and many struggle with mental health issues at twice the rate of boys.

I'm Joe Alarie, Public News Service.

Finally, Election Day is little more than two months away.

North Dakotans turned off by the political environment are urged to consider their long-term health as possible motivation to re-engage with the voting process.

Over the past few years, organizations like the American Medical Association have emphasized messaging that voting is a social determinant of health.

University of North Dakota Professor Craig Burns, who specializes in social work, says this is especially true for marginalized populations.

For example, he says a candidate's stance on local zoning laws and key services might resonate with a person's need to establish a better quality of life.

Whether people have access to an affordable grocery store that sells healthy produce, or whether they have access to safe transportation.

I'm Mike Moen.

This is Mike Clifford.

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