Mental Health Corner
Why is mental health important to education?
Mental health is directly related to children’s learning and development. It encompasses or intersects with interpersonal relationships, social-emotional skills, behavior, learning, academic motivation, certain disabilities, mental illness, crisis prevention and response, school safety and substance abuse. Each of these issues affects not only the success and well-being of the individual student but also the school climate and outcomes for all students.
What are school-based mental health services?
School-based mental health services include a broad spectrum of assessment, prevention, intervention, postvention, counseling, consultation, and referral activities and services. These services are essential to a school’s ability to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for all students, address classroom behavior and discipline, promote students’ academic success, prevent and respond to crisis, support students’ social-emotional needs, identify and respond to a serious mental health problem, and support and partner with at-risk families. Ideally, school-based services dovetail with community-based services so that children and youth receive the support they need in a seamless, coordinated, and comprehensive system of care.
School Mental Health Teams
School mental health teams (SMHT) are multi-disciplinary teams that will meet regularly (weekly preferred) to discuss students that have been identified with social-emotional or mental health concerns. The team uses data-based decision making to support student mental health through selective and indicated interventions. Well-functioning school mental health teams facilitate the maximum impact of a comprehensive school mental health system. They serve as the organizing structure for a tiered system of school mental health supports and services. High functioning teams capitalize on the multi-disciplinary resources within a school and community to achieve the greatest outcomes for students, families, and the school community.
Meet Our School Counselor
Ms. Theresa Stanley
Want to learn more about Mental Health and Wellness?
School Counselor Website
LCSD Health & Wellness Portal