Advancing Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems: Guidance from the Field
Informed by experts in the school health field, this guide assists communities to develop high quality, comprehensive school mental health systems to support students. To develop a strong foundation of district and school professionals — including administrators, educators, and specialized instructional support personnel (e.g., school psychologists, counselors, social workers, nurses) — the guidance includes a focus on workforce development strategies for both pre-service (e.g., ensuring curriculum changes to teach undergraduate and postgraduate students in education, health, and behavioral health professions about high quality and sustainable school mental health systems) and in-service (e.g., training to build internal staff capacity).
Emergency Department Visits Increase for Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions in Children and Adolescents
Each year, during 2018–2023, the number and proportion of weekly ED visits for eight mental and behavioral health conditions were up to two times higher during the school semesters compared to summers among children and teens aged 10–17 years. Among children aged 5–9 years, the number and proportion of emergency department (ED) visits increased for five mental and behavioral health conditions. Parents and caregivers, educators, health care providers, and others who regularly interact with children and adolescents can learn about symptoms of mental distress, and monitor children and adolescents for possible increases in mental distress in the weeks leading up to and during the academic year. Read the MMWR.