Volusia leaders look to address increase in mental health, behavioral issues in middle schoolers

DEBARY, Fla. — DeBary city leaders, Volusia County school district members, the sheriff’s office and parents met Wednesday night to discuss a rise in mental health, drug use and violent crimes among middle schoolers.

On Wednesday night, a 13-year-old girl took her own life. And that came weeks after deputies say a 14-year-old boy shot another person during a drug deal and deputies arrested a 14-year-old student for shooting a 12-year-old classmate with a water bead gun.

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At the meeting, the main idea came down to resources and getting children into the right programs whether it be sports, academics or mental health.

During the just over half-an-hour-long discussion, parents, educators and law enforcement all weighed in on some of the concerns they’ve seen among middle school students and the effects the pandemic has had on them.

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“Not only did they suffer emotionally but they suffered academically. Our kids are far behind and we are doing everything we can to mitigate that,” Superintendent Dr. Scott Fritz said.

The city’s seen a 155% increase in felony arrests among adolescents in the past year from crimes ranging from burglary to attempted murder.

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Parents said they want to see focus on counseling and mental health.

“There needs to be more support for kids overall for everything that’s going on in their lives,” parent Chapell Lopez said. “Sometimes they don’t have anybody to talk to at home.”

Sandi Jackson, with SMA Healthcare, who has more than 20 years of experience working with adolescents and mental health, said social media is a major factor.

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“They are heavily influenced by what’s happening on there, how they are treated on there and how they look and that spills over into the school system ,” Jackson said.

The school district discussed eliminating lockers and going back to a traditional middle school setting where the same core group of students works with the same teachers

The sheriff’s office focused on substance abuse, mental health and jail diversion programs.

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