Student mental health has been a growing concern for years — and for good reasons. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 out of 7 children globally aged 10 - 19 have a mental health condition, but many of them do not receive the support they need. In the United States alone, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) notes that 1 out of 6 children aged 6 - 17 have at least 1 mental health episode every year. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that more than 39% of high school students have “persistent< feelings of sadness or hopelessness.”
There’s an urgent need to improve student mental health, so students thrive emotionally, socially, and academically. Mental health and learning are deeply interconnected. Students with adequate access to mental health services are most likely to succeed academically, participate in school activities, and develop healthy relationships with peers and teachers. Untreated issues can result in poor academic performance, higher rates of chronic absenteeism in students, and increased social withdrawal.
Keep reading as we explore what makes a successful school-based mental health program. We’ll look at 5 exceptional examples of mental health programs in schools that show how you can make a difference in students’ lives everywhere.
Criteria for a successful mental health program in schools
Schools that invest in comprehensive mental health programs create environments that prioritize academic achievement and student emotional and social development.
Successful programs can go beyond the typical student mental health day by using preventive, supportive, and therapeutic tactics to address youth mental health crises on various levels. They’ll strive to give students lifelong skills that build resilience and promote well-being.
There are several components schools must focus on to ensure program success.
Holistic approach
Effective programs shouldn’t focus on just one aspect of a student’s life. They should explore and address all emotional, social, and psychological needs. For example, a program might include social-emotional learning (SEL) and offer youth mental health counseling for a more comprehensive approach to total well-being.
Integration within school systems and curricula
Mental health initiatives in schools can’t be siloed. For best results, they should be embedded in the school curriculum and incorporated into daily activities. For instance, MindUP is a great example of mental health programs in schools that seamlessly integrates lessons on mental health awareness, mindfulness, and emotional regulation into core subjects.
Accessibility and inclusivity for all students
Mental health resources must be accessible to all students to make a significant impact. Socioeconomic background, race, gender, or ability can never determine who gets services. Barriers like stigma and cost must also be addressed to ensure everyone has access to support.
Skilled and trained professionals
Mental health professionals at the school level can include school counselors, social workers, and even teachers. They need to be trained to identify and address students' mental health concerns. Training programs and professional development opportunities for staff and faculty should be ongoing, comprehensive, and current with the latest advancements in mental healthcare.
Stigma reduction
Destigmatizing mental health needs to be a priority. Education, open conversations, peer-led initiatives, and regular communication will help encourage students to seek help without fear.
Early intervention
We know that early intervention predicts the best outcomes. Thus, schools need to be quick to identify and deal with mental health concerns as early as possible. Focusing on prevention and catching early warning signs is more effective than waiting for a crisis to arise.
Culturally responsive
It’s imperative that programs reflect and are sensitive to cultural backgrounds. Today's school and education communities are more diverse than ever, and it’s critical that mental health programs center around inclusivity.
Collaboration between parents, teachers, and mental health professionals
Students with mental health needs should have a robust network of parents, teachers, experienced mental health professionals, and outside organizations. For example, schools can partner with local mental health providers or crisis centers for additional resources when necessary.
Data-driven evaluation
To ensure a program’s efficacy, use regular assessments to find what’s working and where you can improve. To measure impact, you can track valuable data on things like:
- Student outcomes
- Attendance
- Grades
- Emotional and mental well-being
- Social circles
Sustained funding and support
Resources and programs rely on securing consistent financial and administrative support. To continue providing critical youth mental health services in schools, you can look into:
- Grants for school mental health
- Government funding (like ESSER funding)
- Private partnerships
- Donations
Collaboration with external services
One of the best ways to offer mental health resources in schools is to collaborate with mental health organizations that are experienced in providing expert care and support. One example is promoting or partnering with organizations like Crisis Text Line, which offers confidential, free mental health support via text messaging.
Successful school mental health programs to model after
Schools today recognize mental health’s vital role in student well-being and success. Several innovative programs have emerged to help schools address and support students’ emotional and psychological health.
1. Crisis Text Line Partnership in New York Schools
Schools in New York have partnered with the Crisis Text Line to offer students urgent mental health support through private text messaging. The Crisis Text Line ensures students have access to a trained crisis counselor whenever they need it, any time, day or night. They can access experienced support to help them deal with things like depression, social issues, anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
The program has had a significantly positive impact on students’ lives. Texting provides real-time intervention, often reducing the need for more intensive treatments in the future. The Crisis Text Line has helped thousands of students feel heard, supported, and validated during critical life moments. The service has found a way to successfully remove a major barrier to accessing traditional mental health help: time. Offering immediate assistance has been a game-changer for students.
Learn more about the Crisis Text Line.
2. MindUP Program (U.S.)
The MindUP Program is a preventative mental health program based on 4 key pillars: mindful awareness, neuroscience, positive psychology, and social and emotional learning. Its goal is to improve student resilience and reduce anxiety.
MindUP is the brainchild of actor and founder Goldie Hawn. The program has more than 20 years of research and scientific collaboration and helps more than 7 million children every year — it’s been remarkably successful and proven to help students:
- Regulate stress
- Self-regulate emotions
- Improve academic performance
- Reduce aggression
- Increase optimism
- Enhance happiness
Learn more about MindUP.
3. The Buddy Bench Initiative (Canada)
The Buddy Bench — sometimes called “Friendship Benches” — is a transformative tool that fosters peer support and reduces student loneliness. First used in Canadian schools, the premise of the Buddy Bench is simple: children sit on a specific bench when they feel alone or want someone to talk to. It’s an easy, non-verbal signal that invites others to offer companionship and engage with the student.
Buddy Benches can:
- Combat isolation
- Encourage empathy
- Foster community
Research on social inclusion strategies shows that the Buddy Bench technique has a positive impact on school communities. Some studies show that between 19% and 24% fewer students were alone at recess after a Buddy Bench was installed at their school. The benches promote empathy and can even reduce bullying by helping build a sense of belonging that many students crave.
Learn more about the Buddy Bench initiative.
4. School-Based Mental Health Services (UK)
Many schools in the UK have integrated mental health services, like on-site therapy and counseling, right in the school environment. The model helps remove barriers to traditional therapy interactions like transportation, cost, and stigma.
In short, school-based mental health services make care more accessible and affordable to students. The program is based partly on research that links student well-being to later academic success.
Learn about school-based mental health services in the UK.
5. The Mentally Healthy Schools Framework (Australia)
The Mentally Healthy Schools campaign is an Australian-based plan that focuses on mental health awareness. It stems from the Act Belong Commit initiative, which protects the mental health of students, faculty, staff, and entire school communities.
Research shows that the Mentally Healthy Schools Framework can positively impact school staff and faculty, improving mental health literacy and ensuring they can take action when needed. The program has trained 585 teachers, partnered with 68 schools, and reached almost 54,000 students.
Learn about Mentally Healthy Schools.
Achieve positive outcomes with Talkspace mental health support
The success of mental health programs for students is undeniable. At a time when youth mental well-being is in crisis, prioritizing mental health initiatives in schools is more important than ever.
To build a successful school-based mental health program though, you need proper support and resources. Partnering with Talkspace to implement mental health support for your students and faculty is one of the best gifts you can give your school community.
Talkspace provides schools with messaging and online therapy for students and faculty. It also offers useful tools for early intervention and resources to help fight stigma. Talkspace is known for its flexibility and proven outcomes, making it an excellent option for any school that wants to enhance its mental health offerings.
If you’re ready to learn more about Talkspace for Education, reach out for a demo today.
Sources:
- World Health Organization: WHO. 2024. “Mental Health of Adolescents.” October 10, 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health. Accessed January 10, 2025.
- “Mental Health by the Numbers.” 2023. NAMI. April 2023. https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-by-the-numbers/. Accessed January 10, 2025.
- Verlenden, Jorge V., Ari Fodeman, Natalie Wilkins, Sherry Everett Jones, Shamia Moore, Kelly Cornett, Valerie Sims, Ryan Saelee, and Nancy D. Brener. 2024. “Mental Health and Suicide Risk Among High School Students and Protective Factors — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023.” MMWR Supplements 73 (4): 79–86. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su7304a9. Accessed January 10, 2025.
- “MindUP – the Goldie Hawn Foundation.” n.d. MindUP. https://mindup.org/. Accessed January 10, 2025.
- Crisis Text Line. 2024. “Crisis Text Line | Text HOME to 741741 Free, 24/7 Mental Health Support.” December 18, 2024. https://www.crisistextline.org/. Accessed January 10, 2025.
- Griffin, Andrew A., Paul Caldarella, and Christian V. Sabey. 2017. “The Effects of a Buddy Bench on Elementary Students Solitary Behavior During Recess.” Lnternational Electronic Journal of Elementary Education 10 (1): 27–36. https://doi.org/10.26822/iejee.2017131884. Accessed January 10, 2025.
- Canada, PlayPower, and WebpageFX. 2021. “What Is a Buddy Bench?” PlayPower Canada (blog). February 16, 2021. https://playpowercanada.ca/blog/what-is-a-buddy-bench. Accessed January 10, 2025.
- “Mental Health Services for Schools in England : Mentally Healthy Schools.” n.d. https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/whole-school-approach/england/mental-health-services-for-schools-in-england/. Accessed January 10, 2025.
- Act-Belong-Commit. n.d. “Mentally Healthy Schools Case Studies.” https://www.actbelongcommit.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/In_Action_15.-mentally-healthy-schools-case-studies-handbook.pdf. Accessed January 10, 2025.
- “Mentally Healthy Schools - Act Belong Commit.” 2022. Act Belong Commit. June 30, 2022. https://www.actbelongcommit.org.au/programs-initiatives/mentally-healthy-schools/. Accessed January 10, 2025.