Finding a way to reduce anxiety

It’s been another busy week on the campaign trail. They call it a trail, but there’s not any singular path.

So, for me this week it was more coffee and conversations, some quick chats at the middle school open house and homecoming game. And, talking with some Park Spanish Immersion parents at a St. Louis Park Schools Foundation event (more on the foundation at a later date).

As I campaign for school board, a common, sometimes subtle, but always resonating theme is anxiety among students. And, this week there was a New York Times article about this very issue and one creative approach to let kids know that they are not alone in feeling this way.

I think that’s a great first step. But then we have to find ways to address it.

My guess is that it’s not as simple as just providing more counseling. I could see the solutions involving a mix of school resources plus support from Health Partners/Park Nicollet and local organizations like Hopkins-based myHealth and take place not only in our schools, but at places like The Nest or in our homes.

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Do you have ideas about how to address this issue? I’d love to hear them. Drop me a line at colin@ccolincoxslp.org or let’s chat when you see me out and about.