Helping Together:
Conversations on
Student Mental Health
An Education Series for School Nurses and School Staff
Every member of your school community can help students who are struggling, and we all have a role in connecting them with support. You see the early warning signs, manage complex situations, and support students through some of their most vulnerable moments—often with limited time and resources.
Developed in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ School Nurse Mental Health Toolkit, this series offers practical, school-based guidance on some of the most common mental health challenges facing students today.
Each free session is designed specifically for the realities of school-based care, with clear guidance on what you can do within your role, how to recognize warning signs, and when to involve additional supports. Speakers are nationally recognized leaders with decades of pediatric experience offering thoughtful, evidence-informed perspectives grounded in real-world school settings.
Conversations will explore:
- School avoidance
- Panic and anxiety
- Depression
- Self-harm
- Suicide prevention
- Increased confidence responding to mental health concerns
- Practical strategies you can use immediately
- Clear role boundaries and referral guidance
- Language and approaches for sensitive conversations
To learn more about a specific topic, please check out our mental health toolkit curriculum page, perfect for professional development days.
Register to watch the talk live or see below where recordings will be posted.
Only individuals who participate in the live webinar are eligible to receive either a Continuing Nursing Education credit (for nurses) OR a certificate of attendance (all other participants). We do not have access to your certificate and are unable to reissue lost certificates. If you have not received your certificate, we recommend checking your spam or junk email folder.
Proudly Sponsored By:
January 29, 2026
7 – 8 p.m.
School Avoidance
John Farrell, MD
John Farrell, MD, is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a pediatrician at South Riding Pediatrics in South Riding, VA.
Angela Knupp, BSN, RN, NCSN
Angela Knupp, BSN, RN, NCSN, leads the Harrisonburg City Public Schools’ Student Health Services program and serves as a certified school nurse at Rocktown High School in Harrisonburg, VA.
Moderator: Tammy Moody, BSN, RN, NCSN, School Nurse, Lunenburg County Public Schools, VA, Nurse Advisor, VASN Continuing Education Committee, VASN president-elect
February 17, 2026
7 – 8 p.m.
Panic and Anxiety
Amy Dryer, MD
Paige Perriello, MD
Paige Perriello, MD, is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a pediatrician at Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville in Charlottesville, VA, and a member of the steering committee for the Greater Charlottesville Trauma Informed Community Network.
Moderator: Mary Conner, BSN, RN, NCSN, School Nurse (PK-7th), Floyd County Public Schools, VA
March 26, 2026
7 – 8 p.m.
Depression
Jackie Cotton, MD
Jackie Cotton, MD, is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a retired pediatrician at Sentara Health in Virginia Beach,VA, and a faculty member at The Reach Institute and Virginia Mental Health Access Program.
Amy Harden, MD
Amy Harden, MD, is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a retired pediatrician from Beaming Health in Marion, VA.
Moderator: Karrell Smith, BSN, RN, NCSN, PLNC, Nurse Specialist, Richmond City Public Schools
April 23, 2026
7 – 8 p.m.
Self-Harm
Amy Kryder, MD
Amy Kryder, MD, is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, an associate professor at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, a pediatrician at Carilion Pediatric Medicine in Daleville, VA, and an education lead at The Reach Institute and Virginia Mental Health Access Program.
Moderator: Latisha Brooks, BSN, RN, School Nurse, Marshall Middle School, Fauquier County Public Schools
May 19, 2026
7 – 8 p.m.
Preventing Suicide
Peter Dozier, MD
Peter Dozier, MD, is a retired psychiatrist from Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk, VA, formerly the director of the Child and Family Guidance and Consultation Division and a full-time faculty member at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Moderator: Megan Drakes, BSN, RN, NCSN, IBCLC, School Nurse, Williamsburg-James City County
Acknowledgements
Virginia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
Leah Rowland, MD, FAAP, Project Lead for School Nurse Mental Health Curriculum, Pediatrician, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Assistant Professor, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
Amy Dryer, MD, TPG Pediatrics, Woodbridge, VA (Panic)
Amy Harden, MD, FAAP, Southwest Virginia VA-AAP Delegate (Depression)
John Farrell, MD, FAAP, School Health Committee Co-Chair, Loudoun County (School Avoidance)
Amy Kryder, MD, Carillion Health, Daleville, VA, VMAP PPP lead (Self-Harm)
Paige Perriello, MD, FAAP, VA-AAP Delegate for Independent Practices, Charlottesville, VA (Anxiety)
School Nurse Leadership Contributors
Na-Keisha White, MSN-PH, RN, NCSN, VASN President, School Health and Wellness Coordinator, VDOE
Angela Knupp, BSN, RN, Harrisonburg, VA
Heather “Shea” Pugh, BSN, RN, NCSN, Windsor, VA
Virginia Association of School Nurses Collaborators and Nurse Advisors
Tammy Moody, BSN, RN, NCSN, School Nurse, Lunenburg County Public Schools, VA, Nurse Advisor, VASN Continuing Education Committee, VASN president-elect
Supporting Contributors and Consultants
Caroline (Wood) Moore, MPH, School Health Program Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health, Division of Child and Family Health
Tammy Miller, BSN, RN, QMHP (Consult)
Peter Dozier, MD
Mary Conner, BSN, RN, NCSN, School Nurse (PK-7th), Floyd County Public Schools, VA
Karrell Smith, BSN, RN, NCSN, PLNC, Nurse Specialist, Richmond City Public Schools
Latisha Brooks, BSN, RN, School Nurse, Marshall Middle School, Fauquier County Public Schools
Megan Drakes, BSN, RN, NCSN, IBCLC, School Nurse, Williamsburg-James City County
Sarah Bazemore and Dr. Alex Janva, Virginia Department of Education
Supporting Partners
Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP)
Virginia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
Virginia Department of Health
Virginia Department of Education
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided financial support for this project . The award provided 6% of total costs of the VMAP program and totaled up to $800,000. The contents are those of the authors and may not reflect the policies of HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Governments.