Mental Health Awareness
* 1st in a 3-part series
These days, it takes more than a village to raise a child.
As we see a rise in poverty, community drug activity and violence, homelessness and abuse, our children are not immune to the repercussions. According to a 2003 article from the World Health Organization, students suffering emotionally or psychologically cannot thrive or learn to their potential, and long-term consequences of untreated issues can contribute to adult unemployment, civil disengagement, incarceration, substance abuse, lost productivity, and poor health.
Addressing student mental health is a precursor to learning. Raising awareness for the need of improved school-based mental health services is a central focus of the North Carolina Department of Instruction.
In June of 2020, the state board of education adopted a school-based mental health policy that required K-12 school systems to adopt and implement a school-based mental health plan to include mental health training programs and suicide risk referral protocol.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month – as such, The Graham Star would like to recognize the Mental Health Core and Crisis Team at Graham County Schools. Comprised of a group of special individuals who are highly dedicated to improving the lives of students and staff, this team strives to establish the safe and supportive environment that students need to thrive.
School is a vital part of the solution when students spend six or more hours a day there. These individuals have regular contact with the students and help to create relationships, develop trust and monitor students over time.
This week, the Star recognizes the administrators who are part of the crisis team:
* Robert Moody was just named the new superintendent of Graham County Schools. He also serves as the district’s Safe Schools Director. Prior to shifting to the central office, Moody was a science teacher at Robbinsville Middle School for 14 years and later went on to serve as the principal of the school for five years. He received his bachelor’s in education from Western Carolina University and a master’s in school administration from Lincoln Memorial University. Moody has a love for Bible history and furthered his education at Liberty University with a second master’s degree in Christian ministries. He is passionate about keeping students safe and building good relationships. He is married to his wife Nikki and has two children, Sydney and Garrett. He enjoys spending time with his two grandchildren as well.
* Latesha Wiggins is a native of Robbinsville. She began her career in 2000 at Tri-County Community College, after graduating from Western Carolina University with a degree in speech language pathology and a minor in special education. After shifting to the public school setting in Cherokee County, she determined she was passionate about helping children and their families, and chose to pursue her master’s degree in school counseling. After completion of this program, Wiggins decided it was time to shift back to Robbinsville to serve the students in her own community. In 2008, she was hired as the elementary school counselor and worked in this capacity until 2015. She
then moved to the central office, where she became the preschool coordinator. While she formed strong bonds with Pre-K staff and this age group, the opportunity was presented in 2021 for her to take a role in student support, where she supervises counselors, social workers, and nurses. In her free time, she can be found reading, canning, traveling with her husband Michael, and spending time with her grown children Emma and Isaac.