Key points:
The majority (94 percent) of school counselors believe schools cannot address the escalating youth mental health crisis at Tier 3 support levels alone and must adopt proactive, early interventions, according to a new survey from Catapult Learning, a provider of evidence-based academic, behavioral, and mental health interventions for K-12 schools.
The survey of 500 U.S. K-12 school counselors exposed critical challenges in addressing the escalating youth mental health crisis in schools. It was conducted by Wakefield Research in collaboration with Sharon Hoover, Ph.D., co-director of the National Center for School Mental Health.
The data revealed widespread agreement that early, targeted support is essential to tackling the growing youth mental health crisis. Top takeaways included:
- The vast majority (96 percent) agreed that too many students are being pushed towards Tier 3 interventions when they would be better served through earlier identification and intervention before their challenges reach a crisis level
- Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) said they lack the additional time and resources needed to provide adequate support for students struggling with Tier 2 needs
- Ninety percent of counselors reported that concerns about their students’ mental health significantly impact their own well-being, leading to working long hours and losing sleep–in fact, 64 percent felt more stressed about their ability to support students compared to last school year
“These findings spotlight the systemic challenges school counselors face, including limited time for student mental health support and personal burnout,” said Erica Fener Sitkoff, Ph.D., Catapult Learning’s chief clinical officer. “It is clear that Tier 2 interventions are the key to addressing the mental health crisis in schools. By providing targeted support before students reach a level of crisis, we can foster resilience, improve academic outcomes, and reduce the long-term negative impact on students and families.”
The mental health challenges facing today’s youth have been described as a crisis by leading experts. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General called children’s declining mental health “the crisis of our time,” citing soaring rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Recent CDC data revealed that nearly 1 in 3 teenage girls seriously considered suicide in 2021, marking a 60 percent increase over the past decade. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Children’s Hospital Association declared a national state of emergency in child and adolescent mental health, underscoring the urgent need for systemic solutions to support young people before their struggles escalate.
What do counselors need most?
The survey highlighted specific tools and strategies counselors need to support students and manage the growing mental health demands:
- More than half (56 percent) said having better tools to identify at-risk students is a top priority
- Sixty-three percent stressed the importance of targeted interventions for students with Tier 2 needs
- Sixty-four percent indicated a need for reliable ways to measure the impact of interventions, showing that counselors want programs that are effective and data-driven
“As mental health challenges among young people continue to grow, it’s imperative schools are equipped with the tools and strategies necessary to implement Tier 2 interventions effectively,” said Hoover. “These include targeted counseling, skills-based training, and stress management programs that empower students to manage their well-being before reaching a crisis point.”
This press release originally appeared online.
