Student Mental Health and COVID-19: Challenges and Recommendations

COVID-19 has added a whole new dimension of challenges in addressing students’ mental health needs. In my latest article, I explore and outline some of these challenges and recommend a detailed expansion of Tier 1 services for students and staff, including a focus on lifestyle, self-mastery, mindfulness, and the cultivation of resilience. 

The 10-page paper, "Optimizing the Effectiveness of Mental Health Support Staff in Your District" covers many relevant angles of the situation facing educators, counselors, and mental health professionals. I discuss the following and other concerns:

• The roles of mental health support staff
• The pyramid (Multi-Tiered System of Support or MTSS) model
• Students' self-reported mental health disorders 
• Efficiency of service provision
• Elements of a school district mental health plan

I hope you find this information valuable to your school and school district. As always, I welcome your feedback!

Student Mental Health and COVID-19: Challenges and Recommendations