Today’s educators face formidable challenges in supporting students’ mental health. Students are reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression more often, and districts struggle to hire specialists to address students’ needs.
- 42% of students felt persistently sad and hopeless, and 1/3 experienced poor mental health. More than 1 in 5 students said they seriously considered attempting suicide. (CDC, 2021)
- 69% of public schools in 2022 reported an increase in students seeking mental health services from their school, while only 13% of schools strongly agreed they could meet those needs effectively. (NCES)
Although schools have experienced shortages of school psychologists, counselors, and social workers for decades, the gap continues to widen. Forty percent of public schools indicated it was either very difficult or difficult to fill “mental health professional” roles. At the start of the 2023 school year, U.S. schools were short of an estimated 100,000 mental health staff.
Yet, we know schools' critical role in providing mental health support to teens. Research reveals at least 50% of youth with treatable mental health conditions do not receive adequate treatment. Of students who do receive treatment, 90% receive it in school-based settings, and only 10% exclusively rely on general medical providers.
It’s unlikely the country’s school staffing shortage will resolve soon. Schools must consider new research-based, scalable, cost-effective ways to reach all students—and ensure they address those who need immediate mental health intervention.
Here is a 5-part action plan to address the mental health needs of your middle and high school students.
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