The kids are not all right.
Even before the pandemic began, more than 1 in 3 high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. In many communities, those numbers have skyrocketed.
But in some places, educators and others are experimenting with new ways to address students’ mental health needs — or reinvent old strategies.
Supporting students: What’s next for mental health
With mental health needs growing, educators and others are experimenting with new ways to address students’ needs — or reinvent old strategies
In this reporting collaborative, the Education Labs at AL.com, The Dallas Morning News, The Fresno Bee, The Post & Courier and the Seattle Times partnered with The Christian Science Monitor, The Hechinger Report and the Solutions Journalism Network to produce this series of solutions-oriented stories.
Can peer counseling programs bridge access gaps for youth? Experts say it’s complicated
Peer support programs could be key to helping young people grapple with mental health challenges exacerbated by COVID, but data is lacking on their effectiveness
To improve student wellbeing, Alabama invests in mental health coordinators
Right before the pandemic struck, the state created a new program to hire coordinators who connect families with mental health services
How one rural S.C. school district is tackling the in-school therapist shortage
Less than half of schools in the state employ a therapist. In Cherokee County, the district is turning to private providers to fill gaps
This California school opened a safe space for students 12 years ago. Now the idea is spreading
Safe spaces like one at a Fresno middle school help connect kids with counselors and reduce stigma around mental health
Students who drop out for mental health struggles are turning to pricey programs to find their way back
After a mental health leave of absence, students have few programs to help them return to campus
This Texas college’s focus on mental health helps students work through trauma, stay on track
Counselors at Paul Quinn College’s campus clinic don’t wait for students to reach out. Instead, they make their presence known and identify needs early on
Mental health: Is that a job for schools?
Care for students’ mental health needs is increasingly falling on schools. But concerns about ethics, privacy and overburdening educators have some people wondering: Who actually should bear the responsibility?