The Special Education Legislative Summit 2024 (SELS 2024) in Washington DC gathered over 300 members of the special education community, united by a mission to tackle the pressing challenges in our schools. A primary focus was the mental health of K-12 students, explored through a comprehensive survey conducted by eLuma.
eLuma, known for its commitment to school-based mental health and IEP-based services, surveyed 50+ attendees from over 20 states. The results reveal insights into prevailing mental health challenges, existing support systems, and needed improvements.
Key Takeaways
- Anxiety is the most prevalent mental health challenge, identified by over a third of respondents.
- Lack of Confidence in existing mental health services is significant, with 41.8% of respondents doubting their school or district’s ability to provide adequate services.
- Professional Development for Staff is the most common support in place (71.4%), while caregiver support and training could be much better (10.7%).
- There is an urgent need for improved caregiver support and training, with 43 mentions indicating a need for more to support student mental health.
- Contract services are the most popular solution to address staffing shortages in mental health services.
School-wide Wellness Challenges
The most reported mental health or behavioral challenges encompass anxiety, behavioral regulation, emotional regulation, depression, and ADHD. Anxiety tops the list, with over a third of the respondents indicating it as the most prevalent issue, closely followed by behavioral regulation, flagged by 26% of respondents.
Anxiety is the #1 mental health/behavioral challenge facing students today.
Confidence in Current Services & Solutions
When respondents were asked how confident they were that their respective school or district provided adequate mental health services for all students, 42% expressed some doubt.
While 36% stayed neutral, none of the respondents showed extreme confidence. This data points to a critical need for improvement and an opportunity to bolster our school communities.
Current Mental Health Services and Supports
Concerning the support and services at their respective schools to address these challenges, professional development emerged as the most provided solution by 71% of respondents’ schools. Following are classroom guidance, psych evaluations, and Full-Time School Psychologist, Counselor, and LCSW, each with 60%+ prevalence, and universal screeners offered by 36% of respondents’ schools. Despite these impressive statistics, the critical area of caregiver support & training was significantly underrepresented at just 11%.
None of the respondents are extremely confident that their school provides adequate school-wide mental health services.
Needed Services and Supports
Regarding required enhancements, the SELS 2024 survey findings affirm an urgent need for improved caregiver support and training, heightened emphasis on staff professional development, classroom guidance, universal screeners, and FTE counselors and psychologists. A striking 77% of respondents stated their schools need to offer more support and training to student caregivers.
Addressing Staffing Shortages
Responses to addressing staffing shortages in school-based mental health services were varied.
Popular solutions identified by respondents were:
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- Partnerships: Collaborating with online providers and community organizations.
- Contracted Services: Hiring outside agencies and contractual providers.
- Staff Redistribution: Sharing responsibilities among current staff.
- Higher Salaries: Offering competitive pay and prioritizing salary increases.
- In-House Training: Providing certification programs and mentoring.
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No Plan: Many respondents are unsure or unaware of specific actions being taken.
What is School-Based Mental Health
When asked about the meaning of school-based mental health services and support, respondents identified eight key themes:
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- Social and Emotional Learning: Providing SEL in general and special education.
- Resource Access: Ensuring students have resources for mental health and educational success.
- Multi-Level Support: A system of skills, education, interventions, and strategies.
- Free Therapeutic Support: No-cost services for positive educational outcomes.
- Whole Child Approach: Emphasizing the importance of mental health in overall education.
- Safe Environment: Supporting a safe and comfortable learning environment.
- Wraparound Services: Partnerships for comprehensive support for students and families.
These principles shape a comprehensive framework for improving mental health support within our educational system.
The insights from the SELS 2024 survey align with recent trends and provide a crucial roadmap to the current state of mental health in K-12 schools. Click here to view our survey insights from SELS 2023.
Our collective mission, powered by this valuable data, is to ensure students receive the support they deserve, making our schools not just places of learning but sanctuaries for growth and resilience, ensuring every student reaches their full potential.
