By Wesley Gallagher

With the rise of mental health issues among children, many are pushing for an increase of mental health programs in schools. Even before the pandemic, rates of depression and anxiety among young people were rising. Schools have felt the effects of this worsening problem, but they are not yet properly equipped to handle it. Whether screenings, mental health education, or more mental health providers in schools, improvement is desperately needed.

Why Mental Health Should Be Taught in Schools

Amy Kennedy, co-founder of The Kennedy Forum, talks on our Beyond Theory podcast about the importance of addressing mental health in schools. She has seen firsthand the role mental health plays in children’s ability to succeed in school and in life. She has also seen the lack of mental health services in schools and how easy it is for kids with mental health issues to fall through the cracks.

“A lot of times when you’re in the classroom, you’re seeing [mental health issues] as behavior issues,” Kennedy says, “and you’re not necessarily looking deeper for what might be the health piece of it.” Mental health challenges often present in middle school, and according to Kennedy, it’s typically nine years before most people get treatment.

“If we can’t recognize it early on, it can really metastasize like any other disease or illness,” says Kennedy, which is why it’s important to screen for mental health symptoms early to get kids the interventions they need.

During her career in education, Kennedy saw students go to the nurse for scoliosis checks, vision checks, and hearing checks, but no one checked on the mental and emotional health of her students. She saw that as a crucial missing piece of the puzzle. And the pandemic has shone a light on the necessity of addressing this missing piece.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Stats

In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released findings from a survey of more than 7,000 high school students across the US. It revealed:

  • 37% of students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic
  • 31% experienced poor mental health during the preceding 30 days
  • 44% experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness over the preceding 12 months
  • 20% had seriously considered attempting suicide
  • 9% had attempted suicide

These results show an already growing mental health crisis among school-age children worsening during the pandemic.

In October 2022, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended that all children 8 and older receive anxiety disorder screenings, citing the 2018-19 National Survey of Children’s Health statistic that 7.8% of children ages 3-17 had a current anxiety disorder.

Unfortunately, according to The Wall Street Journal, these types of mental health screenings don’t always lead to children getting the care they need. Child psychologists and psychiatrists often have long waiting lists, and on average there is only one school psychologist for every 1,200 K-12 students. There simply aren’t enough services to meet children’s needs.

How Can We Improve Mental Health Programs in Schools?

Amy Kennedy and her colleagues are dedicated to strengthening mental health systems in schools, citing five pillars on the pathway to improvement:

  1. School-community partnership – Developing collaborative working relationships between schools and the community will allow for comprehensive mental health services and an integrated system of care.
  2. School-based mental health services – Educational institutions must develop a framework for the delivery of mental health services to meet students’ needs.
  3. Early identification – Universal mental health screenings in school should be just as important as other health screenings.
  4. Educating the educators Educators are on the frontlines, and they need training and professional development that educates them on topics such as mental health, substance use, and social-emotional learning. This will empower them to meet the mental and emotional needs of their students.
  5. Sustainability – School districts and local agencies must find innovative ways to implement, fund, and sustain mental health supports.

Benefits to Teaching Mental Health in Schools

According to U.S. News, even something as simple as implementing mindfulness in schools benefits students. Middle school staff members in Fishers, Indiana, were trained on the fundamentals of mindfulness, and on the first day of school, students were taught about anchoring breathing patterns, mindful listening, mindful thinking, and empathy. The school nurse noticed fewer children complaining of stomachaches, and teachers noticed less conflict among students. Some kids even taught the skills they had learned to their families.

Practices like these come as many schools focus more on social-emotional learning, especially after the toll the pandemic took on students’ mental health. Two states have even mandated mental health instruction in schools. The goal is to improve mental health literacy so that students and educators alike can catch mental health issues earlier and more often, leading to better outcomes.

The Meadows Cares About Children and Adolescents

If your child is struggling with mental health issues, The Meadows Adolescent Center is here to help. Our caring staff will work with your teen to create a treatment plan that addresses his unique needs. We also offer our Family Matters workshop for families who would like help dealing with the challenges that accompany mental illness or other issues such as trauma, codependence, addiction, and more. This workshop is one of the many we feature at Rio Retreat at The Meadows. Getting your family the help you need is our top priority. Reach out today to learn more and get on the path to wellness.