Mental Health in Our Schools

Mental health disorders are the most common health issues faced by school-aged children. One in five students suffer from a mental health or learning disorder and 80% of chronic mental disorders begin in childhood, according to the 2016 Child Mind Institute Children’s Mental Health Report.

Mental health is a vital part of a child’s overall wellness and learning. All children experience periods of anger, frustration and sadness. However, for some children, these normal stresses can be overwhelming to the point that they interfere with everyday life. This is what happened with Ace.

The calls and reports home from child care were the same every day. “Ace was angry, throwing things and fighting other kids,” said Tameka, Ace’s mom. “I knew this behavior couldn’t continue, and he needed to get help.” Ace began getting treatment through Fraser Mental Health, and his mom noticed a significant change in his ability to be part of class and learn.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) recognizes that many children in need of mental health services do not have access to them. They estimate that 109,000 children and youth in Minnesota need treatment for serious emotional health disturbances. The overwhelming majority of children with mental health disorders fail to be identified.

Through partnerships with mental health providers like Fraser, schools and other community organizations can support the mental health needs of children. This partnership helps families access mental health services by incorporating support into the child’s day, breaking down the barriers of time, transportation and other resources for families who need services.

Ace’s family has benefited from a partnership with Fraser and Head Start in St. Paul. “Ace is able to relate to his peers in ways he never did before,” said Tameka. “He has learned strategies for handling his emotions that have helped him succeed in his first year at school.”

Providing mental health services in the schools is working for more kids like Ace in more school across the state as DHS increases funding. This past fall, Fraser began working with Edina Public schools as well.

The Mental Health in Schools Act, passed last year in Minnesota seeks to provide schools with the supports they need to help their students through partnering with community providers like Fraser. This legislative session many state legislators are sponsoring bills that address this need for more mental health services in our schools, ensuring that the funding is provided for these partnerships.

“This partnership opens up access to mental health services to many families who need it,” said Aric Jensen, MBA, Phd, LP, Director of Mental Health for Fraser. “We see great value in this partnership and model for families, including better communication and collaboration with school staff, improved access to these services for children and their families and reduced stigma in receiving mental health care.”

When individuals with mental health issues receive treatment, the outcomes are encouraging. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, behavioral and emotional problems decreased among 31 percent of youth with mental health needs after six months of receiving mental health services. Within one year of entering a mental health program, the school attendance rates of youth and their grades increased significantly. In addition, the number of students involved in violent incidents decreased by 15 percent within three years of a school implementing a mental health program.

“Ace’s school conferences were completely different than the daily reports I used to get from child care,” said Tameka. “He is doing amazing and showing a passion to learn!”

Learn more about Fraser Mental Health at http://www.fraser.org/Our-Serv....