Mental Health in U.S. Schools: Problems, Interventions, and Future Directions

Authors

Emma Rumpf-Snavely, California State University San BernardinoFollow

Keywords

Mental Health, Education, Youth, Interventions

Abstract

The psychological well-being of American children has been a concern due to the rise in mental health issues. Efforts have been made to tackle some of the issues that are most prevalent among youth such as stress, depression, bullying, substance abuse, suicide and self-harm. Attempted solutions include legislation at the state level, school-wide regulations, and individualized supports. Despite these efforts, there are still discrepancies with implementation and regulation of policies and programs. These inconsistencies have resulted in the continual decline in the mental health of American youth. The United States can gain a more focused direction for their mental health programs by looking at the problems children are facing and analyzing the effectiveness of interventions. Some successful mental health programs include examining international mental health models in schools, implementing Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and incorporating mental health curriculum into school-wide mandates.

Author Statement

Emma Rumpf-Snavely is currently studying at California State University San Bernardino in the Masters in Counseling and Guidance program. She is working towards her PPS credential and LPCC licensure. She hopes to work in a school setting while also doing some non-profit work providing mental health services for youth.

Recommended Citation

Rumpf-Snavely, Emma (2020) "Mental Health in U.S. Schools: Problems, Interventions, and Future Directions," Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice: Vol. 10: No. 1, Article 1.
Available at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/wie/vol10/iss1/1