OCPS is fortunate to have a team of 45 licensed mental health counselors who support our schools by helping to refer students for mental health services, providing brief individual and group counseling services, conducting trainings on mental health topics, and attending various meetings where a mental health perspective or consultation is beneficial.

Some Common Warning Signs:

• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Sudden change in behavior (for better or worse)
• Lack of interest
• Increased use of alcohol and other drugs
• Recent loss of a friend, family member or parent, especially if they died by suicide
• Conflicting feelings or a sense of shame about sexual orientation
• Mood swings, emotional outbursts, high levels of irritability or aggression
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Preoccupation with death
• Giving away valuable possessions
• Talk of suicide (e.g., "nobody cares if I live or die")
• "Hero worship" of people who have died by suicide

Florida Statute 1003.42 requires public schools to facilitate at least five hours of life skills instruction in grades 6-12. Orange County Public Schools provides lessons on life skills and resiliency topics that are mandated by Rule 6A-1.094124 in the Florida Administrative Code.

To support students' resilience, Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis has launched the Build Resiliency website. Parents and caregivers can explore the characteristics of resilience with their children while parents, grandparents, and caregivers can sign up for information about the new Resiliency Coach program.