Mental Health

Subtopics

At Risk Children

Conduct Issues

School Based Mental Health Services

Substance Use

Suicide Management

Training, Partnership, and Capacity Building

Make schools safer by improving access to mental health services.

Students often come to school with complex physical and mental health concerns or social service needs. Access to mental health services helps to create a positive school climate, prevents worsening of mental health conditions, and leads to better outcomes for students.

Mental health challenges are common among students. According to the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, up to 1 in 5 children living in the United States experience a mental disorder every year. Symptoms often start in early childhood, although some may develop during the teenage years.

By supporting students who are experiencing mental health challenges, schools can help foster a sense of safety and promote better academic and behavioral outcomes. Providing access to mental health services can reduce mental, emotional, and behavioral difficulties with students at risk.

Use the filter below to sort resources available based upon stages of preparedness and subtopic.

Featured Resources

These resources are a starting point for learning about mental health. Use these resources to support the mental health needs of your school community.

Guidance

National School Mental Health Best Practices: Implementation Guidance Modules

Department of Health and Human Services

These resources – which include modules containing trainer and participant manuals, slide decks, and recorded virtual learning sessions – are designed to help states, districts, and schools advance comprehensive school mental health, as well as engage in a planning process around implementation of services.

Filter Resources

All Mental Health Resources

The federal government identified additional resources that highlight strategies for school safety. Use these resources to learn more about mental health.

New

Report

Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs

Department of Education, 2021

This guide provides focused information and resources to enhance the promotion of mental health and social and emotional well-being among students. It highlights seven key challenges to providing school- or program-based mental health support across early childhood, K–12 schools, and higher education settings, and presents seven corresponding recommendations.

New

Webpage

Toolkit for Schools: Engaging Parents to Support Student Mental Health and Emotional Well-being

Department of Health and Human Services, 2021

This toolkit is designed to help education leaders and schools raise parent awareness about school connectedness and its role in supporting student mental health and emotional well-being, and why family engagement both in and out of school is important. It includes background information, sample social media posts, social media graphics, and newsletter text.

New

Program

Talk. They Hear You.

Department of Health and Human Services

This campaign aims to reduce underage drinking and other substance use among youths under the age of 21 by providing parents, caregivers, educators, and community members with information and resources they need to address these issues with children.