Schools in New York and nationwide continue to play an important role in bolstering kids’ mental health.
New York made a $1 billion investment in school-based mental health supports last year, but a recent report found 179,000 children in the state live with major depression and more than half do not receive treatment. Insurance barriers, staffing shortages or a lack of access may be to blame.
Angela Kimball, chief advocacy officer for the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable, said school can play many roles in improving kids’ mental health.
“Schools can help promote resilience and skills like getting along well with others, healthy coping skills, making responsible choices,” Kimball outlined. “All of those things can help mitigate against mental health challenges later on.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2025 budget proposal contains several measures aimed at student mental health. They include training high school students to identify and respond to signs of mental health issues among their peers.
One challenge is the ongoing shortage of mental health professionals. A 2022 state comptroller’s report found along with a staffing shortage, most schools lack oversight on mental health education.
Kimball stressed there are ways to work around it and make headway on student mental health.
“Another thing many states are starting to do is broaden the workforce to include staff trained as care coordinators, to help families navigate and access services; wellness coaches to offer brief support,” Kimball explained.
She added low reimbursement for mental health providers is another financial barrier. And their years of higher education saddle many with student debt. A State Senate bill reintroduced this year would establish a school-based mental health loan repayment program, providing up to $30,000 to eligible applicants who agree to work four years in underserved schools.
