Hence, there is an unmet need for mental health services for children and youth. School-based mental health services (SBMHS) are an attempt to increase accessibility to mental health services. And every school has a role to play in promoting and safeguarding mental health and psychosocial well-being. UNESCO is supporting Member States to build resilient education systems that promote mental health for all learners and staff. Teachers are not mental health professionals – but they are key allies in schools.

Positive impact of school counselling and therapy scheme highlighted

• Counselors in particular can be critical support systems for students struggling with their mental health.
• The goal is for all these providers to collaborate and understand the fuller picture of what a child’s struggles are.
• One survey participant recalled theirexperience at the onset of the pandemic, noting that it was “tough to dealwith student needs when we can’t be with them.
• The New Hampshire issue brief lists a sobering array of ways in which un- or undertreated mental health issues can affect students in school.
• Learn how to talk with and support everyone in a family when one member is struggling.
• Students of color and those who experience conditionsrelated to poverty were disproportionately impacted by the dual pandemics and willheavily rely on schools for support.

A recent federal measure, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) of 2022, included provisions to support and expand school-based mental health services, such as $1 billion to increase the number of mental health providers in schools and provide training. Nearly one in five students attending public schools in the United States utilize school-based mental health services, underscoring how schools can serve as an access point for mental health treatment among youth. They’ll work closely with pupils, families and staff to improve emotional wellbeing and provide mental health services for the whole school community. In addition, school counselors help students address issues that can impact their academic and social lives, such as substance use or bullying. In high schools, school counselors typically help students prepare for life after graduation. In elementary schools, Building a districtwide safety net for students school counselors commonly focus on the essential components that help shape and define students’ maturing personalities and abilities.

Do children and young people need parental consent to access School Counselling Team services?

SMH systems coordinate services to promote the social and emotional development of students, which can have a positive and lasting impact on youth achievement, behavior, and wellbeing (Sanchez et al., 2018; Taylor et al., 2017). To support student mental health needs effectively and sustainably, it is critical to develop and strengthen the capacity of schools to implement comprehensive school mental health (SMH) systems. Finally, we conducted a systematic review of the literature to understand how these professionals’ time is allocated, as well as their responsibilities related to the provision of mental health services.

The reasons for severe shortages of school psychologists are multifaceted and include a shortage of faculty and financial resources requiring creative solutions for addressing workforce needs (Bocanegra et al., 2022). We focus on school psychologists with masters or specialist-level training because they represent the largest portion of school psychologists practicing in school settings (83%) relative to doctoral school psychologists (17%; Goforth et al., 2021). Nationally, NASP approves training programs and offers the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential to qualified school psychologists. Nationally, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits approved nursing programs, and the National Board for the Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN) offers the Nationally Certified School Nurse (NCSN) credential to qualified school nurses.

We focus on these four disciplines because they (a) have professional, often graduate-level training in supporting the mental health of students; (b) are typically certified at the national- and/or state-level; and (c) are frequently identified in SMH policy and guidance (see, e.g., Cowan et al., 2013; Every Student Succeeds Act ESSA, 2015). Although SMH services engage a wide range of professionals, national shortages of SMH providers mean that schools often face supply shortages of qualified SMH practitioners (Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA, 2015). Second, national workforce shortages and limited funding to hire and train professionals mean that schools have difficulty staffing—and subsequently implementing—comprehensive SMH services (Shelton & Owens, 2021). When these key features occur, schools are able to deliver services in a comprehensive and coordinated manner that reduces disparities and responds to the diversity of students and families. SMH services refer to a continuum of supports and interventions designed to prevent, identify, and treat student mental health challenges and to promote student wellbeing and success.

Our staff services include staff support sessions, guidance and safeguarding support, mental health training and specialist training to senior leaders Our partner schools benefit from a dedicated Place2Be mental health professional who’ll be an integral part of your school team. When you become a Place2Be partner school, you’ll benefit from a mixture of mental health and counselling services based on your school’s individual needs. While what a school counselor does can vary, they ultimately work to help students experience positive well-being at school and in their personal lives. School counselors can facilitate this by hosting sessions that encourage students to have an open dialogue in ways that make them feel most comfortable. Sometimes, students just need an outlet to talk to someone, whether it’s a professional or a group of their peers.