Mental health concerns increase during 2020-21 school year, pandemic The elementary hired a new counselor to help support the increased mental health needs of students and families. 11:00 am, May 6, 2021 × Lakeland Mental Health professional and children’s supervisor Courtney Rooney (left), high school career counselor Jen Bain, Lakeland Mental Health professional Sage Becklund-Erickson and mental health support specialist Brooklyn Thompson shared support services updates with the Perham school board on April 14, 2021. (Rebecca Mitchell/Focus) As the pandemic carries on, the mental health needs of students and families have increased. Diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, ADHD and PTSD are prevalent in the “constant crisis” throughout the 2020-21 school year, as Lakeland Mental Health professional and children’s supervisor Courtney Rooney said. Students are also supported with hard situations at home.