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 students, educators, and staff. Members of the school community can also download this SchoolSafety.gov infographic to learn more about mental health and access a sampling of resources.

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.

Program

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Department of Health and Human Services

This program offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. The corresponding webpage provides additional resources and information for strengthening suicide prevention and mental health crisis services.

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.

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.

Guidance

Stronger Connections Grant Program: Frequently Asked Questions

Department of Education, 2022

This downloadable frequently asked questions document is designed to assist state and local education agencies (SEAs and LEAs) in guiding effective use of Stronger Connections funds to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments and to respond to inquiries the Department of Education has received from SEAs, LEAs, and students and families, about program implementation. The Stronger Connections Grant Program competitively awards subgrants to high-need LEAs to establish safer and healthier learning environments, and to prevent and respond to acts of bullying, violence, and hate that impact school communities at individual and systemic levels, among other programs and activities.

Program

Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health)

Department of Health and Human Services

This program seeks to improve coordination across child-serving systems, build infrastructure, and increase access to high-quality prevention and wellness promotion services for children and their families. Its purpose is to promote the wellness of young children ages birth to 8 by addressing the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of their development.

Program

Disaster Distress Helpline

Department of Health and Human Services

This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. The service is staffed by trained counselors who provide crisis counseling; information on how to recognize distress and its effects on individuals and families; referrals to local crisis call centers for additional follow-up care and support; and healthy coping tips.