School Based Mental Health Programme in India: A Review » The International Journal of Indian Psychȯlogy

Patafio et al. provide a broad review of mental health education programming . A key strategy for early intervention of mental health disorders lies in educational programming. The frequency of mental health disorders and suicide has prompted a variety of initiatives including educational programming and counseling resources.

• We thank President Marcos and the members of the Congress for supporting our efforts of building a system that prioritizes our children’s holistic development,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.
• When asked how they knew students were impacted, counselors described student conversations and behaviors after the presentation.
• Innovative mental health initiatives in schools aren’t just improving student wellness; they’re transforming educational outcomes.
• We need school-based mental health services now more than ever.
• In these past few years, school communities across the state of Maryland have been impacted by new and growing mental health concerns.
• Youth often respond to questions of whether they have sought out or met with a mental health professional.

Many schools also benefit from partnerships with non-profit organizations that provide free or low-cost mental health services to students. Additionally, many schools have found success in partnering with universities to access research-based interventions and student counseling services. Schools often provide access to mental health resources, self-care strategies, and consultation services to prevent teacher burnout and maintain their own emotional well-being while supporting students. This surge in mental health needs calls for a more comprehensive approach to student well-being, making school-based mental health programs not just beneficial but essential for modern education.

Columbia University Department of Psychiatry

ACF has been working in partnership with young people, parents, and caregivers to design and develop new behavioral health resources, including a mental health video series, an enhanced behavioral health webpage with resources for different audiences, and a tip sheet for parents and caregivers developed by young people. In these past few years, school communities across the state of Maryland have been impacted by new and growing mental health concerns. Training of school staff also enables early identification and intervention, when issues are easier and less costly to treat. OMH Find-a-Program Search this directory of all OMH-licensed programs across the state, by county.

Impact details

A law passed in 2021 making funding available for school-based mental health services, and Senate leaders this year have pledged to put together a legislative package addressing mental health, including improving kids’ access to care. For example, she says, Colorado has leveraged Medicaid to cover school-based mental health care – including telehealth services – for all eligible students. In a narrower review of only school-based interventions, Ma et al. found moderate support for the effectiveness of programs in 22 studies . Menu items have been externally assessed for how well they support student mental health and wellbeing, ensuring schools have access to a range of evidence-based supports to meet their needs.

The program’s cost-effective approach has made it a model for other urban schools, demonstrating that meaningful mental health support is achievable with strategic planning and community engagement. As Sarah Martinez, a high school counselor, explains, “When teachers feel confident in their ability to support students’ emotional needs, they create safer, more nurturing classroom environments.” Many schools partner with mental health professionals to provide ongoing coaching and mentorship for teachers. Parent consultation services help families understand their children’s mental health needs and provide strategies for support at home.

Can you describe the types of interventions provided by site-based mental health professionals?

Teachers often play a role in identifying students with mental health needs and linking them to care, although prior research suggests  that many teachers may not be adequately trained to do so. In the same year, 70% of these public schools had a school or district-employed licensed mental health professional on staff and 57% had an external mental health provider (Figure 3). This includes 10% of schools that say they strongly agree they could effectively provide mental health service and 42% that moderately agreed. In 2022 and 2023, CMS issued guidance to increase the accessibility of these services by eliminating some of the practical barriers that schools faced when delivering services through Medicaid. School-based services can also reduce access barriers for underserved populations, including children from low-income households and children of color.

The Menu provides schools with opportunities to purchase evidence-based programs and initiatives across the three tiers of intervention. The authors point out that school-based mental health interventions have been studied almost exclusively in high-income countries — despite the fact that about 80 percent of the global population of children live in low- Health departments and school contact tracing and middle-income countries (LMICs). Alongside partnering with nonprofits that offer tailored programs, experts recommend the following nine foundational approaches to caring for students’ mental health in schools. NCSMH’s School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation (SHAPE) SystemThe SHAPE system is a public-access, web-based platform that offers schools, districts and states a workspace and targeted resources to support school mental health quality improvement. Children and adolescents spend a large portion of their lives attending school, and in many communities, particularly where there is a shortage of community-based clinical providers, schools have become the largest provider of mental health services.