School-based mental health supports benefit students, but staffing ratios and service availability fall far short of recommendations¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · review r? · q2–q3
Currency · newest study 2023 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person · recheck by 2028: baselines and conditions change

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Studies find counselors reduce disciplinary incidents and recidivism, improve teachers' perceptions of school climate and behavior, and increase boys' academic achievement. → dePaoli 2023 q2 i? Schools average 451 students per counselor and 1,162 per psychologist, and only 42% offered mental health treatment services in 2019–20. → dePaoli 2023 (2)

Evidence¶

dePaoli 2023¶

dePaoli, J., & McCombs, J. (2023). Safe schools, thriving students: Evidence-based strategies for creating safe and supportive schools. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/701.445

q3 · i? · review · r?

The review reports multiple studies on counselor benefits, plus a meta-analysis of school-based mental health services in elementary schools finding positive effects on students' mental health.

"Studies have found that counselors reduce disciplinary incidents and disciplinary recidivism, improve teachers’ perceptions of school climate and student behavior, and increase boys’ academic achievement."

dePaoli 2023 (2)¶

dePaoli, J., & McCombs, J. (2023). Safe schools, thriving students: Evidence-based strategies for creating safe and supportive schools. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/701.445

q2 · i? · review · r?

The review reports national staffing data: the counselor ratio of 451:1 versus the recommended 250:1, a psychologist ratio of 1,162:1 versus a recommended 500:1, and that only 42% of schools offered mental health treatment services in 2019–20.

"The American School Counselor Association recommends a student-to-counselor ratio of 250:1, but nationally, schools average a ratio of 451:1."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

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• LEAs most frequently used short-term behavioral health funds to expand internal staffing and direct services rather than partnerships and structural investments — related
• Most educationally related mental health services were provided by LEAs even though funds for them are allocated to SELPAs — related
• El Segundo Unified secured board funding for middle and high school wellness centers after observing Melbourne school wellness centers amid rising mental health needs — related
• Secondary students in PUSD increasingly reported open mental health conversations at school and knowing where to go for help from 2020/21 to 2022/23 — related
• SBHIP needs assessments show LEAs' critical needs fall mainly into workforce needs and structural needs, with workforce needs described much more frequently — related
• Secondary students in PUSD reported declining rates of chronic sadness/hopelessness and suicidal ideation from 2020/21 to 2022/23 — related
• Through Project Cal-Well, SCOE established or renewed 70 community partnerships to improve school-based mental health services — related
• National average school support-staff ratios fall far below recommended levels for psychologists, counselors, and social workers — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)
• The average student-to-school-counselor ratio (385:1) exceeds the recommended 250:1, with higher ratios in schools serving more students of color and low-income students — related