Mental health services in schools

What are mental health services in schools?

States frequently spend more on residential treatment for children with the most serious emotional disturbances than they spend on community treatment to prevent children's mental health problems. Estimates are that 12% of children under 18 have mental disorders, and estimates for socioeconomically disadvantaged children are even larger, 20% or higher. Unfortunately, many children end up not receiving the help they need because families lack financial means, transportation, or motivation. Providing mental health services for children and/or parents in schools that children attend is a way of improving accessibility to mental health services and preventing the development of serious emotional disorders.

What the Kennedy Center is doing:

Independent evaluation of the MST services package--National Institute of Mental Health (1999-2004)
Bahr Weiss, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, Thomas Catron, Ph.D., Vicki Harris, Ph.D.

Learn more about mental health services in schools:

National Institute of Mental Health
Facts for Families Brochure American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
CECP-Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice Improving service to children and youth with emotional and bahavorial problems
Reasonable Accommodations for People with Psychiatric Disabilities: An On-Line Resource for Employers and Educators