As Youth Mental Health Crisis Rages, Michigan Schools Work to Bolster Students' Sense of Connection

A Massachusetts pilot program provided philanthropic funding to bolster mental health support in schools, with money for extra clinicians, social workers, and bilingual staff to help better coordinate with families. School officials say the additional resources have helped reduce suspensions and emergency calls and gotten students who would otherwise not have access connected to care, but future funding for the services is uncertain.

In Oregon's Multnomah County, high schools provide school-based mental health care centers, which include access to an overall health assessment, a mental health counselor, and a behavioral health specialist at no out-of-pocket cost. One benefit of this program is that students who are visiting the center for a physical reason – such as headaches – have the opportunity to have potential underlying conditions that are related to mental health recognized.

Schools in Austin, Texas have a renewed vigor to address student mental health after they saw hundreds of suicide attempts in recent years. In addition to approaching the issue in a serious manner, schools are now equipped with full-time mental health clinics on campus to offer support for students, teachers, and families. There are now 45 different clinics across the city that have worked with over 2,000 visitors, and already studies are showing improvements in things like increased self-esteem and decreased psychological distress.

Trauma training for police and community workers teaches them how to make tough situations, such as the arrest of a parent, easier on young children. Painful memories can alter perceptions of police for a lifetime.

Elementary schools in New Hampshire are implementing several programs to help build resiliency in their students and reduce the risk of suicide. One program includes introducing trauma care coordinators, while another encourages students to write letters about their concerns. Both tactics have had positive results, evident through fewer recorded cases of problematic behavioral issues.

A middle school in New Hampshire has piloted a program that focuses on dividing the school into different wings and offering classes on "mental wellness, conflict resolution, and healthy ways to communicate" with the goal of better addressing the emotional wellbeing of students. The outcomes have been promising thus far, with students reporting improved effects on their mental health.

Teaching people about the harmful impacts of social media and tech addiction are a crucial first step in mitigating its consequences. The Center for Human Technology (CHT) has partnered with Common Sense Media to launch the Truth About Tech campaign, which calls for a shift in values surrounding technology and tech companies. The organizations accomplish this through a curricula designed to teach awareness and mindfulness about tech use beginning at an early age. By high school, students are introduced to ethical design principles.

A growing number of high schools across Massachusetts are exploring later start times, amid research showing that a lack of sleep can have detrimental effects on the health and academic performance of teenagers.

Turnaround for Children, an organization founded to address mental health issues and their repercussions in the classroom, focuses on preparing teachers and schools to structure classroom environments in a constructive way. They create opportunities for learning in rigorous ways with high expectations so that children thrive and are well cared for, helping them to thrive both academically and emotionally.

Through the Youth Connect program, Memphis teens can access up to 12 sessions with an out-of-school therapist, helping to fill gaps in school-based mental health services and give students more choice in who they see. So far, nearly 350 students have taken advantage of the program.