School Health Infrastructure and Mental Health Supports in U.S. Secondary Schools.

PURPOSE: To estimate nationwide prevalence of and associations between school health infrastructure and school-based mental health supports in US secondary schools.

METHODS

We used 2022 data from School Health Profiles, which assess practices in US secondary schools. We calculated prevalence estimates of and prevalence ratios between six school health infrastructure components (e.g., full-time registered nurse) and seven school-based mental health supports (e.g., universal mental health promotion programs).

RESULTS

Prevalence of school health infrastructure components ranged from 24.4% (school-based health center) to 95.8% (staff for reporting bullying and sexual harassment). Prevalence of mental health supports ranged from 58.5% (cognitive behavioral therapy groups) to 94.5% (written protocols for mental health services referrals). Four of six school health infrastructure components were positively associated with all examined school-based mental health supports.

DISCUSSION: There are opportunities to integrate school health infrastructure components and comprehensive mental health supports within schools to address youth mental health needs.