Ep. 50 Gaps in Mental Health Services for K-12 Students (Lee Kaiser)
- Neil Parekh
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Lee Kaiser, a longtime school counselor with more than 30 years of experience in Northern Virginia schools, will join me and Dawn Neuburg for a conversation about the gaps in mental health services for K-12 students.
While there is more awareness than ever about the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of young people, many students and families still struggle to access timely, consistent support. School counselors, social workers, and psychologists play essential roles, but too often they are stretched thin, unevenly available, or forced to respond to crises rather than provide the early, ongoing care students need.
Join us for Ep. 50 of Shining Light on Shadows: A Candid Conversation About Mental Health, “Gaps in Mental Health Services for K-12 Students” on Thursday, June 18 at 7pm ET / 6pm CT.
Watch the live show or recording on this website or watch and comment on social media: Facebook* | Twitter** | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram**
*Facebook will delete the video in about 30 days (approx. July 17th). We won't know the exact urls for Twitter and Instagram until we start. For now, these links go to my Twitter and Instagram profiles.
This episode will explore where the support system is falling short and why that matters for students, families, educators, and communities. Lee will share what he has seen over decades working directly with students, including the barriers families face when trying to find help, the limits of school-based resources, and the challenges of connecting students with outside mental health services. The conversation will focus on what it really takes to support young people — not just in moments of crisis, but as part of a broader “village” committed to their well-being.
On a personal note, Lee and I both graduated from Hastings High School in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. He graduated with the class of 1987. I graduated in 1991. I first got to know Lee when he was the starting goalie on our Varsity Soccer Team. I was in 8th grade and played Junior Varsity. He didn’t know me, but I certainly knew and looked up to him.
Programming Notes
Our schedule is a little different for June. Our next show will be Tuesday, June 23. Eva Green will join us for Ep. 51, “The Mental Health Toll of Navigating the Foster Care System." She will discuss the difficulty of navigating the foster care system and the mental health toll it takes on the whole family. She also wants to address longstanding challenges that contribute to placement instability, generational trauma, caregiver turnover, and staff burnout.
On July 9, Dr. Vasu Tolia will join us for Ep. 52, “Art, Hope, and Ending the
Shame Around Mental Health.”
She will discuss how art and creativity can open conversations, reduce isolation, support reflection, and help people feel seen. She is also an ambassador for a mental health advocacy organization, No Shame on U. Their mission speaks to her as a physician, artist, and community member, and she believes that reducing the stigma helps people and families seek support earlier and live fuller lives. I am also proud to say she is one of my aunts.
Background
Dawn and I launched this twice a month show (usually the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month) in order to help reduce the stigma associated with mental health. Thank you for being part of our community.
We are proud to be in Year 3 of the show. If you are interested in being a guest on the show or know someone who might be interested, please let us know. We’re looking for people who would be willing to share their story, advocates and people who work in the field of mental health.
We hope you can watch the show and share your own thoughts in the comments.
Resources / Relevant Links
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline
800-950-6264 Or text "HelpLine" to 6264; nami.org
Mental Health America Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org; mhanational.org Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline 800-656-HOPE (4673); rainn.org
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