Impact of School Counselors on Mental Health
Interview with Kadi Tenney
In this conversation, school counselor Kadi Tenney discusses the evolving role of school counselors in addressing mental health issues among students. She highlights the importance of mental health support, the challenges faced by counselors, and the impact of the pandemic on student well-being. The discussion also covers cultural perceptions of mental health, the necessity of parental involvement, and the transformative experiences of students who have benefited from counseling. Tenney emphasizes the critical need for more trained counselors in schools and encourages open communication about mental health.
Kadi's students are not alone in their struggle.
There is a Critical Need for Trained Counselors in the Schools
American School Counselor Association
Empirical Research Studies Supporting the Value of School Counseling
Studies on social and emotional development impact
- Professional School Counseling journal – English Language Learners in treatment group showed higher scores on school adjustment, higher Grade Point Averages.
- Professional School Counseling: Bystander bullying intervention training decreased bullying school wide in four-month follow up.
- Professional School Counseling.: Four years of positive behavioral support programs reduced behavior referrals, suspensions, lost instructional days – although effect sizes were small.
- Journal of School Counseling: Family discussion group program with school counselors on referral reduced children’s hyperactive, defiant and aggressive behavior while improving parents’ management skills.
- Journal of Policy Analysis and Management: National study found schools with counselors focused on mental health services for younger children make greater test score gains and are less likely to report problem behaviors. Elementary counselors also influence teacher perceptions of school climate. It also reduces percentage of teachers who say instruction is impacted by problem student behavior, including fights, cutting class, stealing or using drugs.
- Psychology in the schools: Students who participated in school counseling interventions improved test scores and discipline, problem solving and career knowledge. Counseling had a smaller, but significant impact on academic achievements. Interventions were more effective in small groups instead of whole-class interventions.
- Professional School Counseling: Resilience in Middle School: groups counseling intervention found some students increase personal-social functioning and GPA following the intervention.
National Education Association Today
School counselor shortages
- 48 states are above the recommended 250-1 school counselor ratio
- Government emergency funding ending
- Counselors now coping with additional administrative tasks
- Average national ratio is 385 students per counselor
- Ratio improved in last 12 years
- US Department of Education reports that 17% of schools have no school counselor –
- Counselors require a Masters degree in most states
- Safer communities act provided $1 billion for counselors, but money is going away.
The Landscape of School-Based Mental Health Services
Kaiser family foundation
- One third of schools provide outreach services, including screening.
- 17% of schools offer mental health services through telehealth
- 85% provide individual-based intervention
- 39% offer family intervention
- Only half received funding for mental health services
- 67% increased services in the pandemic – but only 41% hired more staff.
- Lack of funding and qualified staff remain the biggest barrier – only 15 cited difficulties caused by parent reactions
- 40% said pandemic affected student behavior and socio-emotional development.
American Psychological Association
Kids’ mental health is in crisis. Here’s what psychologists are doing to help
Research is focused on child and teen mental health, exploring why they are struggling and what can be done to help them
- CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System: 40% increase in suicidal thoughts and behavior among young people in 10 years before the pandemic.
PEW Research Center:
Only half of schools offer mental health assessments for students and few offer treatments
- 55% of schools provide diagnostic mental health assessments – mostly older students in larger schools
- 42% provide treatment for mental health services
