The following is partner content from: Brent Bien
Every parent wants their child to be safe, healthy, and ready for the future. I want that with my own kids. As I travel across Wyoming, I’ve met parents, teachers, grandparents, and students who are worried. Too many of our children are living with anxiety, depression, bullying, loneliness, and hopelessness.
Wyoming has spent millions of dollars on student mental health programs, yet so many of our young people are still hurting. We need to stop pretending that spending more money is the answer. We need to begin asking whether we’re addressing the root causes or just reacting after a child reaches a crisis.
My plan involves a few steps. Programs need to be grounded in sound plans with results that can be measured. Parents must be involved from start to finish. Students with serious mental illness must be able to reach professional help quickly, and they must focus on training children responsibility, perseverance, respect, self-discipline and resilience.
Every child should be able to walk into school without being bullied, threatened, or intimidated. Parents should have open communication with the school when issues arise. Too many times the parents must initiate costly lawsuits to advocate for their child. This is unacceptable.
Parents should never be the last to know when their son or daughter is struggling, they must be brought in immediately. Schools and families must work together, not against each other.
We also owe taxpayers accountability. If we are investing in mental health programs, we need to know if they’re working. Are students safer? Are attendance and graduation rates increasing? Are fewer of our children on the brink of crisis?
If a program works, then keep it going. If it does not, let’s have the guts to try something else. We owe our children that.
Our kids need to develop their resilience. Life isn’t always easy. Every one of us has experienced disappointment and failure. But that’s where some of life’s greatest lessons lie. We have to teach our kids that challenges are not something to fear. They have to know that they can overcome their challenges.
A healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and less screen time combined with more time outdoors help build healthier bodies, stronger minds, and more resilient children.
We don’t have to choose between compassion and accountability. We can have both.
Our children who need help should get it immediately. Additionally, teachers need safe classrooms where learning can happen. But taxpayers deserve honest reporting, measurable outcomes, and leaders who will ask whether the efforts we undertake really do help our children.
When I’m elected governor, I’ll work to create a system that doesn’t just treat mental illness when there’s a crisis but works to prevent crises before they happen. That means stronger families, safer schools, accountability for our kids, and the development of resilience, confidence, and purpose.
Our goal shouldn’t simply be healthier children. Our goal should be raising a generation of confident, resilient, responsible children who are ready to succeed and strengthen Wyoming’s future.
Paid for by Brent Bien
