How Mental Health Supports Impact Social, Emotional, and Academic Development

Millions of students across the country, especially students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, and students with disabilities, lack access to critical school-based mental health services.

Mental health supports for students refers to a broad range of wraparound services and interventions provided by schools to support students’ social, emotional, and mental well-being. These supports — which range from access to mental health professionals, such as school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and nurses, to needs assessments and family-based interventions — are essential to students’ success in school and life.

The most common services offered in schools include individual-based interventions like one-on-one counseling or therapy, case management or coordinating mental health services, and referrals for care outside of...