There has been a staggering increase in the rate of students that experience a mental health concern since Jan. 2020.¹ The American Academy of Pediatrics² in 2021 declared a ‘national emergency in children’s mental health’ as the need to support the social and emotional wellbeing of our campus communities remains paramount.

Mental health has far-reaching implications for students and schools, yet the demand for youth mental health supports continues to outpace the supply of available services. That need was the catalyst for SchoolMed: Mental Health, which uses a novel approach to bring timely screenings, teletherapy, and crisis supports as well as a pathway to extended care for students and their families. 

Anxiety, depression, grief, harmful thoughts, and life changes have impacts that reach far beyond those that experience them, creating a ripple effect that impacts the classroom, families, and our communities. In this Good News Series, we explore some of those impacts. 

The Ripple Effect communities feel when children and adolescents experience mental health concerns varies greatly. Undiagnosed mental illness can often contribute to social issues, such as poverty and homelessness, but through early intervention and a supportive environment, positive outcomes are possible.

Students who lack access to proper mental health supports often fare worse in the classroom, leading to lower overall graduation rates. Research shows that adults with higher levels of education are more likely to earn higher incomes and less likely to experience poverty and homelessness than their peers with fewer educational credentials.³

One survey found education level is a primary predictor of future health and happiness, reporting that adults with a college degree experience better health outcomes, live longer lives, and enjoy more stable marriages.⁴

National awareness around the need to address mental health concerns in childhood means there are more funding opportunities available to school systems than ever. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agency, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHS), and other state and local players have put hundreds of millions of dollars of funding in place to support schools’ efforts to expanding health and safety programs.

Education is an important factor in fostering healthy and vibrant communities. Supporting students on their journey to emotional health and well-being by providing timely access to mental health services at school is vital to providing safe and healthy communities for all.

School-based programs remove traditional barriers to access to care and ensure health equity, enabling all students the opportunity for a successful future.

Do you have a topic around mental health and its impacts on children that you’d like to learn about?

Let us know by clicking here to send us a message with your topic and why it’s important to you, and bookmark the Good News page for more content throughout the 22/23 school year. 

SOURCES:

1. https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/HB-906-Mental-Health-Task-Force-Year-1-Report.pdf 
2. https://www.aap.org/en/advocacy/child-and-adolescent-healthy-mental-development/aap-aacap-cha-declaration-of-a-national-emergency-in-child-and-adolescent-mental-health/ 
3. https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2016/data-on-display/education-matters.htm 
4. https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1257/jep.25.1.159