BY LILIA LUCIANO

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Nick Orr is teaching more than science in his Las Vegas #HighSchool classroom. Orr says his #students were different when they returned from remote learning. 

"I've had to work with our #socialworkers more times than I can even count just because so many #kids are hurting," Orr told CBS News. 

At least 30 #students have died by #suicide in the Clark County #SchoolDistrict since the #pandemic began. 

Nationwide, about one in five #teens considered #suicide during the #pandemic, according to the #CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention. The #CDC also found 44% of #highschoolstudents in the U.S. reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless in the past year. 

To confront the challenge, the #school district launched a weekly social and emotional learning lesson. 

"Honestly, it does help — that moment of five minutes of talking about, 'Oh today was not the best day,'" Maurice, a Sierra Vista #HighSchool #student, told CBS News. 

CBS News joined Maurice and his classmates as they discussed the topic of "belonging" in class. 

"Now that we're all back, I feel like a lot of people are more, like, they're not as willing to … talk to someone new," Alex said. 

"I would say the impact is, like, people feeling alone," Giovanna added. 

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Principal Jessica Lovell brings a therapy dog to #school every day and says her #teachers know the job takes more than the description requires. 

"I think it goes back to that #teacher as a, a kind have to wear different hats. So, am I teaching right now, am I a #therapist right now, am I talking #kids down right now, am I talking about what's happening in the world," Lovell told CBS News. 

Orr knows the consequences of missing the signs of distress. In August 2020, his 18-year-old brother, Anthony, was among those 30 #students the district lost to #suicide. Anthony had just graduated. 

"If I didn't see this in my own brother, someone with whom I was living, how am I gonna see it in someone that I see for 84 minutes every other day?" Orr said. "He kept everything hidden and on his phone and, well, he didn't vocalize when he needed help." 

Preventing that from happening again is now his mission. 

"I think we need to take a lot of pressure off #kids as far as grades and academics, and put more pressure on happiness and well-being," he said. "It's OK to not be OK, as long as you have a plan to get back to OK." 

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, call the #NationalSuicidePreventionHotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

For more information about mental health care resources and support, The #NationalAllianceonMentalIllness (#NAMI) HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@nami.org.

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