Duval County school mental health staff get new poetry resource

Educators and support staff in Duval County Public Schools received copies of a local mental health awareness book during an end-of-year celebration in Jacksonville on June 16, 2026. The effort aimed to help school teams better understand student behavior, emotional struggles, and learning needs as student mental health concerns continue nationwide. Why it matters: - Student mental health remains a major concern in schools, and staff often need practical tools to identify hidden struggles early. - The book is aimed at strengthening how educators, families, and communities respond to behavioral, emotional, and learning challenges. - The presentation came during a school celebration, which put the resource directly in front of people working with students every day. What happened: - Duval County Public Schools staff received copies of Uplifting The Pain of Behavioral and Learning Styles Through Poetry…Now during a recent End-of-Year School-Based Mental Health Celebration in Jacksonville. - The recipients included educators, counselors, principals, social workers, and other school professionals. - Gail Carter-Cade, a local author, educator, and advocate, wrote the book. - Complimentary copies went to the first 30 attendees who arrived at the celebration. The details: - The book is presented as a mental health awareness resource for teachers, counselors, principals, social workers, parents, employers, coaches, therapists, and community organizations. - Carter-Cade said the book uses poetry and reflection to help readers understand hidden struggles. - The book includes more than 200 poems focused on behavioral, emotional, and learning-related challenges affecting children and young adults. - The book’s stated goals include uncovering the cause behind behaviors, understanding student struggles, uplifting pain through awareness and support, strengthening connections among students, families, schools, and communities, and promoting academic success through intervention. - Carter-Cade said she draws on more than 15 years of experience working with students and families. - The book is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the official website. - Selected poems have also been released in musical format. - More information is available at the official website . Between the lines: - The release ties the book to a broader school climate in which educators are being asked to support both academic performance and emotional well-being. - The CDC has reported that about 40% of high school students experienced persistent sadness or hopelessness, and nearly 20% seriously considered suicide. - NAMI has said one in six youth experiences a mental health condition each year, though many go unidentified or unsupported. - Research also shows that nearly half of lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 14, which underscores the value of early awareness and intervention. - Carter-Cade said many students signal pain through behavior, withdrawal, frustration, or academic difficulties, and her goal is to help adults recognize those signals and start meaningful conversations. What’s next: - Carter-Cade is offering school presentations, professional development, speaking engagements, and community partnerships tied to the book. - Duval County schools and other communities can use the resource to support empathy, communication, and student support systems. - The musical releases may extend the reach of the mental health message beyond the printed book. The bottom line: - The book launch at Duval County’s year-end mental health celebration is meant to give school staff a concrete tool for spotting student distress and responding earlier.