WESTFIELD, Indiana — During their visit to Westfield High School Wednesday, First Lady Jill Biden, along with general surgeon Dr. Vivek Murthy, spoke with students and staff about the importance of mental health services within schools.

According to previous reports, the first lady arrived in the Indianapolis area on Wednesday as part of a series of back-to-school events around the country. Biden, along with Dr. Murthy, highlighted the importance of mental health resources for schools and how federal programs have supported mental health resources across Indiana and across the country.

When they arrived, Biden and Dr. Murthy met with a group of students from the Westfield High School chapter of the Robbie’s Hope organization, a student organization focused on suicide prevention. The students talked to them about the group’s mission and what they are doing to spread mental health awareness among students at Westfield High School.

During the visit, the first lady and the surgeon general also participated in a panel discussion with school officials to hear how the school, district, state and federal government work together to support students’ mental health needs. The roundtable was hosted by Biden and Dr. Murthy to learn more about how to improve mental health services federally for students and the wider community.

During his speech, Biden said in his class, there are still some students who struggle with anxiety and feel isolated. Biden teaches English and writing at Northern Virginia Community College.

As a teacher, she said she has worked with students to build community within the classroom, expressing the importance of sharing their stories and experiences.

Biden praised the Robbie’s Hope organization, saying that when she learned what they were doing in Westfield, she had to come and see them. He also praised the work done by President Joe Biden and the current administration to invest in the mental health of young people.

The first lady said Indiana has been a great partner in federal efforts to help young people through this mental health crisis.

“It’s not the political details or the legislative victories,” he said. “…It’s okay to not feel good and you’re not alone. You shouldn’t have to tackle the corners of the world alone.”

As Surgeon General, Dr. Murthy said the goal is to break down the “terrible stigma” surrounding mental health, especially for young people, which he says is a significant public health emergency in the United States.

As he traveled across the country, Dr Murthy said he listened to the concerns of students, who spoke to him about what’s causing mental health problems, including social media, bullying and “incessant pressure” within of the country’s culture. He said there is a lot weighing on young people, which has helped him issue numerous mental health advisories over the past two years.

Dr. Murthy spoke about the investment the administration has made in mental health in schools and communities through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. He also spoke about implementing 988 as a hotline for people to call or text as a resource to talk to qualified behavioral health counselors.