Rogers Heritage senior urges expanded mental-health education and services

Jocelyn Figueroa, a senior at Rogers Heritage High School, told the Rogers School District Board of Education on Feb. 20 that the district should expand mental-health education, increase onsite counseling and create peer-support programs.

"Our schools must take necessary measures and steps to proactively support and advocate for student mental health," Figueroa told the board. She urged integrating mental-health topics into the curriculum, teaching students to recognize warning signs, and providing accessible counseling and group support.

Figueroa described her own experience with depression and the suicide of a close friend during her freshman year. "I will admit I almost lost my life," she said. "When I finally decided to reach out to someone, I knew that I would be judged in every way. But I found amazing support groups and sought help for myself." She said peer-support programs would feel "less scary" for some students than seeking help from adults and said schools should involve parents through workshops and information sessions.

After her remarks, board members and staff asked questions about signals to look for and how to encourage students to reach out. In response, Figueroa said having fellow students available as peer mentors would have made her more likely to seek help earlier.

Figueroa concluded by describing how sustained support helped her recover and by thanking Superintendent Doctor Perry and the board for the opportunity to speak.

Why it matters: Students and families across the district said staff presentations show the district is rethinking instruction and supports; student testimony in public board meetings helps shape priorities for counseling resources and mental-health programming.

What the board said: Board members praised Figueroa's courage and asked staff to consider how peer-support programs and counseling access could be expanded alongside curriculum changes and staff training.