Elizabeth Furrow used her generation’s struggles with mental health as an example when she was chosen to be a legislator for the day. Furrow, along with other students who make up Fredericksburg City Schools’ Youth Mental Health Task Force, visited the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond last week.
“As many know, the current youth mental health crisis affects nearly every student, classroom, and school system in America,” said Furrow, a senior at James Monroe High School. “However, the most effective way to address this crisis is by going straight to the youth themselves.”
The Fredericksburg City Public Schools Youth Mental Health Task Force, which consists of 20 middle and high school students, was established this past November through a mental health grant awarded to eight school divisions in the state, including FCPS. The members of the task force have worked closely with school officials and local mental health organizations to help reduce the stigma of mental health in schools.
“While adults do a lot of great work to assist with this crisis, the most innovative and successful solutions are often found through student experience,” Furrow said. “I believe that the existence of a Youth Mental Health Task Force in my school system will pave the way to mitigate the youth mental health crisis in ways that will help students like me.”
State Senator Tara Durant (R-Stafford) invited the students to be recognized by the Senate and House chambers on the floor for their work on the task force. The students were also given a tour of the historic Capitol building and sat down for a follow-up Q&A with legislators.
“Initiatives like the FCPS Mental Health Peers should serve as a model for all schools, providing essential support for students facing mental health challenges,” Durant told the Free Press. “These programs not only raise awareness but also connect students with key support figures and offer a clear path to seeking help.”
The students on the Mental Health Task Force were given a tour of the Capitol. (Photo courtesy of Tiffany Holmes.)
“As the learning ground for the future of earth, schools must add mental health to their learning to ensure a future that is not only medically advanced, but mentally as well,” Walker-Grant Middle School sixth grader Allan Perry said.
Perry added: “My favorite part of this was being on TV in front of all the senators of Virginia.”
Furrow emphasized how great it was to see the different groups that came to make their issues known to the state legislators.
Focuses were “diverse, including anti-semitism, pro-life, rare disease research, veteran stipends, dietetics, and our own, youth mental health,” Furrow said. “Watching each of these groups advocate for important aspects of their own lives and communities opened my eyes to the workings of the Virginia Legislative Branch.”
