Assessing the State of Mental Health Services in U.S. School-Based Health Centers.

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in mental health issues among adolescents. School-based health centers (SBHCs) aim to improve access to health care, including mental health services.

METHODS

This study examines the degree to which schools provide mental health programming and the role of SBHCs in particular, guided by the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. Data from the 2022 School Health Profiles Principal Questionnaire were analyzed for this study.

RESULTS

Schools with SBHCs offered more mental health services than those without. Specifically, schools with an SBHC provided significantly more universal mental health promotion, trauma-informed practices, prosocial skills training, confidential mental health screenings, and small groups for specific issues. The largest difference was observed in the availability of cognitive behavioral therapy groups.

DISCUSSION: Ongoing discussions are necessary to understand how to best meet student needs and the role of providers in school settings.