Classroom Clinic brings mental health access to Iowa students

When psychiatric nurse practitioner Sue Gehling saw a lack of mental health services in her community, she decided it was time for a change. “It just kind of dawned on me, you know what? The cavalry’s not coming. And if the cavalry is not coming, then I need to stand up and help my families because if I don’t help them, then who will?” Gehling said.Taking matters into her own hands, she launched Classroom Clinic in 2019. The program connects students with mental health professionals through telehealth technology, allowing them to access care from the classroom. Classroom Clinic provides psychiatric evaluations, therapy, and medication management. Gehling says bringing mental health care to the classroom not only helps reduce the stigma surrounding it but also helps break barriers like long drive times, limited resource centers and high costs. Furthermore, it’s a way to address mental health problems that can hinder students from being active participants in school. “Kids who have anxiety often don’t want to go to school, and so then that affects their attendance, which is a huge problem here in the state,” Gehling said. Gehling’s Classroom Clinic serves more than 40,000 students across Iowa. The mission doesn’t stop there, as Gehling is working to reach more educators and administrators at the Iowa Association of School Boards Convention this week. » Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI

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