Say "school safety" and people often think about fences, fights, and active assailants. But at its core, school safety is about creating an environment where every student feels safe, supported, connected, and able to learn.

As child and adolescent mental health issues reach epidemic proportions and accessing mental health care remains challenging for many, student mental health is becoming an increasingly important part of a comprehensive school safety strategy.

Rising Concerns and Barriers to Care

Nearly 1 in 5 children between the ages of 3 and 17 has been diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral health condition, according to the CDC.

Conditions like anxiety and depression tend to be significantly more common among teenagers than younger children, while behavioral health issues peak in the elementary school years.

According to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 40% of U.S. high school students reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness in the previous year. 1 in 5 reported seriously considering suicide in the previous year.

Accessing mental health care can be challenging for many children and families due to barriers such as limited availability of providers, long waitlists, financial constraints, lack of insurance coverage, transportation issues, and the stigma that still surrounds mental health. Many schools are stepping in to fill the gap by conducting screenings and helping students and families connect with appropriate services. Educators are also working to design regular school programming that supports strong mental health.

Prevention Begins With Connection

One of the best protective factors in a school environment is a sense of belonging. Students who feel connected to trusted adults and to their school community are more likely to seek help when they are struggling.

Educators and school health and safety professionals can contribute to this culture by:

• Building positive relationships with students through everyday interactions.
• Recognizing behavioral changes and communicating concerns through established school support channels.
• Promoting a school climate where asking for help is encouraged rather than stigmatized.
• Partnering with school counselors, psychologists, administrators, and mental health professionals.
• Supporting prevention programs that address bullying, social isolation, conflict resolution, and emotional wellness.

A simple conversation, a compassionate response, or a timely referral can make a meaningful difference in a student's life.

Formalizing Processes

While work to forge connections with students and to build a healthy culture is a critical step, many schools are developing more formal structures to evaluate students and connect them with the resources they need.

School safety professionals are often in a unique position to observe changes in student behavior. Increased isolation, sudden behavioral changes, emotional outbursts, withdrawal from peers, or expressions of hopelessness may signal that a student needs additional support. Behavioral threat assessment helps connect the dots between what many individuals, from teachers to counselors to school nurses, observe.

Behavioral threat assessment and management programs, when implemented appropriately, focus on identifying concerning behaviors, understanding underlying needs, assessing risk, and connecting students with interventions and support.

Whole Schools

When we prioritize student mental health, we aren't just supporting student success. We are strengthening school safety, building stronger communities, and potentially changing lives.

Because ultimately, the safest schools are not simply the ones that are prepared to respond to a crisis. They are the ones committed to preventing crises by supporting students every day.