Mental Health Supports in School

While working on my applied theory paper, I found an article from nprED that supported the need for mental health supports within our educational system. The article stated that 80% of students that exhibit mental health symptoms go untreated and undiagnosed. As a result, there can be negative impacts for both learning and behavior. Having schools provide the appropriate supports and services to address mental health issues could help students positively grow and learn (Anderson & Cardoza, 2016). But the reality is that there is a huge lack of resources and funding for districts to address the issue appropriately. This article points out the need for collaboration from the family, the teachers, school counselors, and health providers at school sites. If we work together to bring up any concerns, we can hopefully intervene and find the right supports and services for students that need treatment. At my high school site, we are in our second year of a pilot program that provides mental health support to our students. We have a full time therapist and two behavior support techs that work specifically with students to address their mental health needs both in small groups and 1:1. The team works collaboratively with the teachers to address any learning or behavior issues and they develop an intervention plan. It is a much needed program and I think our students benefit from the additional support. Share your thoughts about this article and the report of the high number of students (80%) that are in need of mental health supports? What type of mental health supports are offered by your district or school site? Anderson, M., & Cardoza, K. (2016). Mental Health In Schools: A Hidden Crisis Affecting Millions of Students. Retrieved January 17, 2017, from http://apps.npr.org/mental-health/.