Fast Facts About Mental Health Education and Counseling

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The National Association of American Psychologists recommends that there are no more than 700 students per psychologist, but in American schools, the ratio in 2014-2015 was, on average, more than twice that. This crushing statistic shows the stress being placed on these schools' systems which are arguably reaching a breaking point.

Up to 20% of American children and youth experience mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. However, only about half of the people with these disorders receive mental health counseling or services.

Teachers who are largely responsible for providing initial support for their students are inadequately trained to address these issues. This leaves these students issues spiraling until they need more serious treatment or resort to other methods to treat their issues, such as drug abuse or self harm.

In impoverished communities, these disorders have been exacerbated due to certain financial situations and household structures: this means that there is an even higher need for support in the schools which have access to even less funding.

Due to the effects of Covid-19 and many schools shifting to online teaching programs, students have even less support than what was normally available to them. The current economic downturn which can greatly affect a child's quality of life, coupled with school closures, results in an inability to address the needs of students with mental health challenges

Students spend huge portions of their lives in school, and this is where many of their issues may be stemming from, so it is essential that they have the support system they need.