BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — In collaboration with the Baltimore County Public Schools system, NFL Hall of Famer Ray Lewis will launch a mental health screening program at 15 schools in the county.
The Rising Together program is a partnership-focused program intended to help schools identify mental health risks, such as depression or anxiety, among students and connect them and their families with support.
The initiative will see trained health officials administer a questionnaire to students to determine the baseline for their mental health, with officials later carrying out check-ins to see how students are faring.
Former Ravens player Ray Lewis speaks to students at the Mind Over Matter annual conference. (Gaby Arancibia/Patch)
"You walk into a physical, an NFL physical, they go through everything on your body," the Baltimore Ravens legend explained. "This mental health screening is exactly the same thing."
"So now when you come down, and you look at these kids a year later. It's like, wait a minute. This is their base, right? You screen them again. They're off a little bit here. Now we know how to correct it. I make it that simple because it really is that simple."
BCPS Superintendent Myriam Rogers announced the program would run at nine elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools. The program will also be implemented at one academy.
Lewis' organization, the Ray of Hope Foundation, holds similar partnerships with other school districts in Florida, Colorado, Michigan, Louisiana, and New Jersey.
The mental health initiative is intended to detect early risk factors and provide resources that can help families. (Gaby Arancibia/Patch)
Lewis played for the Ravens from 1996 to 2012, and was known for his leadership role on the team. He played 17 consecutive seasons as a linebacker, including two Super Bowl wins, was twice named Defensive Player of the Year and won Super Bowl MVP in 2000.
He told Patch that before the program can be expanded, for right now, the idea is to "test the waters" to see how well the program functions.
"I think the more parents really push this initiative, that's where we win," Lewis told Patch. "Because we want them to understand that parenting is hard now. So we have to give them help. And I think this is a way to give them help."
"My goal is, honestly, if you can get 15 schools, then I'm calling the governor because we need to do every school. That's the goal. That's the end goal," he said.
Rogers said the program will run at no cost to the county and that parents will have the opportunity to decline participation.
Former Hall of Famer Ray Lewis spoke with reporters after speaking to students at the annual Mind Over Matter conference. (Gaby Arancibia/Patch)
"We have all the rewards to gain from this partnership," Rogers said.
The superintendent named the participating schools in step with the district's annual Mind Over Matters Youth Wellness Conference, which saw Lewis speak to students about the importance of building a strong support system.