A Message From Monrovia Unified Regarding Mental Health Resources

Monrovia Unified School District

December 3, 2020

Dear Monrovia Unified Community,As we near the end of a very challenging year, I want to remind you all that the health and safety of our students and school community is Monrovia Unified’s top priority. At this time, our students are deep into their online studies and may face additional levels of stress due to the combination of personal isolation and online workloads.

Yesterday, Dec. 2, 2020, a child in San Joaquin County died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a Zoom distance learning class while his camera and microphone were turned off. I cannot imagine the horror his classmates and teacher experienced, and will continue to experience for some time to come. My heart breaks for his family and friends.While I will never make sense of this, I thought it vital to again share wellness resources within our District and community that are available for students, staff, and parents. Monrovia Unified counselors are available to help students and can be reached by email, phone, or Zoom during their office hours. Through our partnership with Care Solace, a drug and mental health support network, students and families have access to a 24-hour virtual mental health center, which includes web-based tools that make it easy to connect with vetted mental healthcare resources and providers in the community. They may also be reached by calling: (888) 515-0595.This continues to be a time filled with uncertainty for us all. Taking care of mental health needs is extremely important. Other mental health resources also include the following:https://www.monroviaschools.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=349147&type=d&pREC_ID=758338

• California Youth Crisis Line: (800) 843-5200
• LA County Department of Mental Health Access: (800) 854-7771
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255

Please remember that we are all in this together. Stay safe, healthy, and remember that social distancing should not mean social isolation. Continue to check in with one another and connect virtually to offer each other support during these times.Sincerely,Dr. Katherine Thorossian

This press release was produced by Monrovia Unified School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.