For our behavioral health team to provide mental health care and treatment for children, it is so important for schools to cultivate a safe, non-judgmental culture of mental health awareness where teachers and support staff are trained to identify the early signs of mental illness. Evidence shows that ethnic and racial minorities are often mislabeled as aggressive, violent, or combative when they are, instead, suffering from a chronic, underlying mental illness that was not identified early on. The presence of school based mental health services has been shown to reduce the number of students being misplaced in the school-to-prison pipeline or juvenile justice system.

Bringing mental health care programs to schools 

Since children spend one-third of their lives in the classroom, schools provide a natural setting for students to receive support in a non-stigmatizing and barrier-free environment where they have seamless access to early intervention and treatment in one location. 

School-based mental health care also presents a unique opportunity for us to eliminate barriers to accessing care. Other benefits include students missing less of their classes, parents not having to call out of work to bring their child to appointments, giving parents the ability to attend their child’s appointments virtually, and more opportunity for collaboration between school staff and mental health professionals. 

It is important to provide mental health services from a systems of care approach. The adage “it takes a village” certainly reigns true as it applies to caring for children and their families. Children interact and engage with several different youth-serving entities: education system, primary health care system, mental health system, potentially religious/spiritual care system, child welfare system, substance abuse treatment services system, juvenile justice system, and developmental disabilities system. These systems, when functioning at their best, should be youth-guided and family-driven. Collaboration with the education system involves communicating with many diverse partners including teachers, staff, students, parents, and their families. With everybody coming together, we can address the individualized mental health care needs of children and adolescents within the naturalistic systems and communities in which they live, thus increasing the likelihood of the child growing into a successful, thriving adult. 

Making a difference for our youth 

Mental health issues do not get better on their own. The longer an illness persists, the more difficult it can be to treat and recover. Raising awareness of mental health and offering mental health services directly to students on campus is the focus of school based mental health care. 

Whether you are directly involved in health care or not, we all have a role to play in supporting children by removing barriers to access, and creating communities where young people can grow and thrive.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy expressed this collaborative notion so eloquently when he said: 

“If we seize this moment, step up for our children and their families in their moment of need, and lead with inclusion, kindness and respect, we can lay a foundation for a healthier, more resilient and more fulfilled nation.” 

Related:
Surveys show troubling trends in student behavior
Why student and teacher wellness comes first