Screening Districtwide for Students’ Social-Emotional Health

FOCUS: MENTAL HEALTH

In the wake of a heartbreaking incident in a neighboring district, where a high school student tragically took his own life without any visible signs of distress, many were left wondering what could have been done to prevent such a devastating loss. In response, our school district made a pivotal decision to implement universal social-emotional behavioral health screening across the district to identify students at risk for suicide and prevent future tragedies.

The imperative to support students’ mental health in schools has become increasingly urgent, particularly as suicide rates among children and adolescents continue to rise. Even before the pandemic, schools struggled to provide comprehensive support for students’ social-emotional well-being.

The National Center for School Mental Health stresses the importance of identifying and supporting students within the school environment, recognizing the barriers many families face in accessing traditional mental health services.