A new Montefiore School Health Program launched at P.S./M.S. 4 in the Bronx on Monday to provide students with mental health services.

As part of the program, a center opened inside the school to give students easy access to psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers five days a week, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Lorraine Melendez has four children that go to P.S./M.S. 4. She says the program is very convenient for parents. She already signed her kids up to take part.

"They're able to get educated and get health care at the same time, which is amazing," she says.

School officials say many students come from local shelters and need this support.

"Whether it's through a disruption of housing, the family structure or just their day-to-day life, they absolutely have increased needs and they don't always know to ask for them," says Dr. Delaney Gracy, the program's director of clinical services.

Principal Dr. Vincent Resto says it's time that these long overdue services became available, especially as the pandemic continues.

"If were not addressing the social, emotional, mental issues of our babies, then we're really not meeting their needs," he says. "This a really holistic, educational approach to making sure every single baby is successful at the end of the day."

The opening of the mental health clinic at the school is the first phase of the Montefiore School Health Center. Soon, students will also be able to get care for medical, dental and vision needs as well as community health.