Evidence Base

Mental Health 

  • Each year, 14-20% of youth are diagnosed with mental, emotional or behavioral mental health disorders (National Academy of Science, 2009)

  • Only 45% of youth with mental health diagnosis receive treatment, and only 24% of those individuals receive care in the school system (Costello, He, Sampson, Kessler & Merikangas, 2014)

Youth Mental Health 

  • 1 in 5 children suffers from a mental health or learning disorder 

  • 80% of chronic mental disorders begin in childhood

  • Urgent need for early identification (Merikangas, et al. 2010)

  • 20% of US children have a mental health disorder (Child Mind Institute. 2015 Children’s Mental Health Report)

Stress in Childhood; Youth Mental Health: Early Intervention 

  • Approximately ⅓ of children display symptoms of stress

  • More than half of all college students report “overwheming anxiety”

  • “Stress is the top health problem facing kids today” - Sandra Hassink, Former President of American Pediactrics Association 

  • Over 140,000 youth in US lost caregiver to covid (NIH, 2021)

  • Mental health crises in our schools: disparities based on race, ethnicity, poverty, LGBTQIA+ status, ability level, language, immigration status, etc.- US Dept of Ed (2021) & Surgeon General (2021)

  • More suicide attempts, gun violence, loss, social isolation, behavior concerns. - American Academy of Pediatrics: 2022: Youth Mental Health is in a State of Emergency

  • Fifty percent of mental health disorders begin before age 14 and 75% before age 24, affecting the learning and school experience for all children (Kessler, Berglund, Demier, Jin, Merikangas, & Walters 2005)

  • Forns, Abad, & Kirchner, 2014

  • Internalized behaviors - directed inward, including depression, anxiety, phobias, social withdrawal and peer isolation

  • Externalizing behaviors - directed to the environment and others, such as aggression and rule breaking.

Common Big Question

  • How many students do we anticipate will endorse/ will say yes (indicate positive)  thoughts about suicide if asked?

    • 15-20% of students wil indicate a positive / yes when asking about thoughts of suicide

Normalize Screening 

  • Auto mechanic - most of us are not an expert with but our cars still need annual maintenance and inspection.

  • House Inspections - when buying house, we need inspectors tells whats wrong with the house before we buy it.

  • Medical - we go to the doctor for skin cancer screening, physicals, etc.

    What do we currently do to screen all students?

  • Hearing, vision, scoliosis, lice, grade-level assessments.

“Thoughts of suicide depression and hopelessness exist in the minds of students (it’s not rocket science).” - Jill Baker, OHA