Education, HHS chiefs call for student wellness overhaul

Becker's Healthcare September 11, 2025
Ella Ruder

The Washington Post published an op-ed by Linda McMahon, secretary of education and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of HHS on Sept. 10., arguing schools should prioritize healthy habits over routine mental health screenings.

Here are six things takeaways from the essay:

1. The essay criticized state policies like Illinois’ annual student mental health screenings, arguing they risk medicalizing normal child behaviors and imposing long-term stigmas on students.

2. Rather than relying on school-based mental health systems, the piece urged schools and policymakers to prioritize nutrition, sleep, physical activity and family engagement as the first line of mental well-being.

3. The essay calls out screen time and social media use...

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