The Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Indian Education, has awarded an additional five-year contract to increase access to behavioral health support to students and staff at Bureau-funded schools and programs.
The BIE's Behavioral Health and Wellness Program offers virtual counseling and on-site crisis services through a clinical team that is primarily staffed by Indigenous clinicians, according to a June 29 news release.
"Mental wellness is a key component of every student's success," BIE Director Tony Dearman said in the release. "We will focus these resources on the unique issues that face our Indigenous students with a clear emphasis on suicide prevention, crisis services and behavioral health through an Indigenous lens. We believe this will have a significantly positive impact throughout Indian Country by supporting future leaders, reducing generational trauma and promoting healthier lives."