Across the country, students are struggling with an unprecedented mental health crisis. Anxiety, depression, and stress-related challenges have surged in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many young people struggling, but without the support they desperately need. Teachers and school staff witness these struggles firsthand, yet too often lack the resources and training necessary to support young people in their time of need.
The lack of sufficient mental health care in schools not only endangers students’ well-being but also can harm their academic performance, leading to difficulties with focus, decreased participation, increased behavior challenges, and higher rates of absenteeism. When mental health services are available in schools, students are more likely to seek help, reducing stigma and ensuring timely intervention that supports both their emotional well-being and academic success. Therefore, increasing the number of well trained school-based mental health professionals in schools is essential to the future of our schools.
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) currently has effective programs to assist schools in supporting their students’ mental health, but with the department currently being dismantled during the Trump administration, the future of these programs is uncertain. In the midst of a student mental health crisis, it is essential that these programs not only be preserved at the Department of Education, but expanded.
The Lifeline of Federal Investment
Two important programs administered by the Department of Education—the School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) Grant and the Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) Demonstration Grant—provide critical federal investments that ensure students receive the mental health support they need to thrive. These programs fund the recruitment, training, and placement of school-based mental health professionals—counselors, social workers, and psychologists—directly within schools, where students spend most of their time and where early intervention can make the greatest impact. The first awards under these programs were made under the first Trump administration and dramatically expanded under the Biden administration. When it became clear that the ongoing pandemic was driving youth mental health challenges to an all-time high, the Biden administration used the two programs to provide a lifeline to over 260 grantees across forty-eight states (see Map 1), ensuring schools had the resources necessary to address this crisis. These grants have allowed schools to expand access to care, lower student-to-mental health professional ratios, and foster a culture of well-being—ensuring that students receive timely support before crises escalate into tragic incidents.
Map 1
The expansion of the programs in 2022 was made possible by funding through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), marking an unprecedented federal investment in school-based mental health. Bipartisan electeds at the time recognized the urgent need for new mental health support in schools, and met the moment by expanding the Department of Education’s mental health grant programs.
Due to overwhelming demand from districts, higher education institutions, and states, the Biden administration continued investing in the SBMH and MHSP programs even after all BSCA funds were allocated. After BSCA funds were exhausted, the Department of Education used 2024 School Safety and National Activity (SSNA) funds to meet the mental health needs of schools across the country. This was a choice—and it was and remains the right and most efficient choice. Because these SBMH and MHSP grants were not meant to merely be temporary solutions—they were and remain strategic investments in long-term, sustainable mental health infrastructure and make schools healthier and safer for all students.
The Department of Education’s Crucial Role as Administrator
The Department of Education is the most efficient and effective agency to support schools in expanding access to mental health services because it is uniquely positioned at the intersection of education and student well-being. ED has been staffed with experts who deeply understand the research on school based mental health, the realities of school systems, the limitations educators face, and the infrastructure needed to integrate mental health supports seamlessly into learning environments without sacrificing academic instruction. The agency has direct lines to school leaders, state education departments, and higher education institutions, allowing it to swiftly implement evidence-based programs and ensure funding reaches those who need it most. Schools are not hospitals or clinics; they require solutions tailored to the educational setting, and no agency is better equipped to provide that guidance than the one dedicated to student success at every level.
Examples of Federal Grants Supporting Local Efforts
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is expanding mental health access for students with $19 million in support from MHSP and SBMH. Federal funds will allow GCPS to hire and train more than thirty new school-based mental health professionals and place additional counselors directly in schools, increasing access to critical services for students struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma. The grants will also help the district develop partnerships with local universities to train future school counselors and social workers, creating a sustainable pipeline of mental health professionals. With student mental health concerns at an all-time high, this funding ensures that thousands of students—many of whom might not otherwise have access to care—receive the support they need to succeed academically and personally.
Wake County Public Schools (WCPSS) is investing $14.1 million from these grants to ensure that every WCPSS school has a dedicated mental health provider. The district will use funding to hire twenty therapists to provide direct services to students, three instructional assistants to support students in crisis, two school social workers to manage the expanded program, one clinical supervisor to oversee therapists and clinical programs, and one program manager to coordinate all mental health services. The grant will also support increased training for licensed staff and those pursuing clinical licensure, as well as fund a records management system to improve service tracking. This investment will make a tangible difference by ensuring that students receive timely, professional mental health support, leading to better academic and personal outcomes.
Equity and Sustainability
These federal grants are designed to support underserved and high-need schools, ensuring that all students—regardless of zip code—have access to professional mental health services. Persistent shortages of school psychologists, counselors, and social workers, coupled with limited state and local funding, have left too many students without the support they need. Without federal investment, students in low-income and rural communities would continue to face barriers to mental health care, negatively affecting their academic success and long-term well-being.
For example, the Ujima Center for School Counseling Scholars at Bowie State University, funded through the federal Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) grant, is dedicated to increasing the number of highly trained school counselors in underserved communities. This transformative program covers 75 percent tuition and $500 in books, and provides a free laptop and stipends for those in the program completing internship or practicum. By removing financial barriers for students dedicated to making a difference in K–12 schools, the program is designed to strengthen the pipeline of much needed school counselors while equipping future counselors with the skills to address the mental health needs of traditionally underserved students. The Ujima Center is not only expanding access to critical services but also ensuring that more schools—especially those in high-need areas—have the support necessary to foster student well-being and success.
The Cost of Inaction
Failing to sustain these federal programs would have devastating consequences for students, schools, and communities. Without continued investment, many districts would be forced to scale back mental health services, increase counselor caseloads, and leave students without vital support systems. Schools would struggle to maintain the progress made, and students—especially those in underresourced communities—would bear the burden of reduced access to care.
Federal investment in school-based mental health is not just a moral imperative—it is an economic necessity. By addressing mental health challenges through qualified mental health professionals, these programs reduce long-term costs associated with untreated mental health conditions, improve student outcomes, and create healthier, more productive communities. Without these investments, schools might have to discontinue training programs or layoff trusted mental health professionals. We must continue supporting these grants to build a future where every student has the stability, resilience, and resources needed to succeed in school and beyond.
Tags: mental health, youth mental health, department of education
The Crucial Role of Federal Investment to Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis
Across the country, students are struggling with an unprecedented mental health crisis. Anxiety, depression, and stress-related challenges have surged in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many young people struggling, but without the support they desperately need. Teachers and school staff witness these struggles firsthand, yet too often lack the resources and training necessary to support young people in their time of need.
The lack of sufficient mental health care in schools not only endangers students’ well-being but also can harm their academic performance, leading to difficulties with focus, decreased participation, increased behavior challenges, and higher rates of absenteeism. When mental health services are available in schools, students are more likely to seek help, reducing stigma and ensuring timely intervention that supports both their emotional well-being and academic success. Therefore, increasing the number of well trained school-based mental health professionals in schools is essential to the future of our schools.
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) currently has effective programs to assist schools in supporting their students’ mental health, but with the department currently being dismantled during the Trump administration, the future of these programs is uncertain. In the midst of a student mental health crisis, it is essential that these programs not only be preserved at the Department of Education, but expanded.
The Lifeline of Federal Investment
Two important programs administered by the Department of Education—the School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) Grant and the Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) Demonstration Grant—provide critical federal investments that ensure students receive the mental health support they need to thrive. These programs fund the recruitment, training, and placement of school-based mental health professionals—counselors, social workers, and psychologists—directly within schools, where students spend most of their time and where early intervention can make the greatest impact. The first awards under these programs were made under the first Trump administration and dramatically expanded under the Biden administration. When it became clear that the ongoing pandemic was driving youth mental health challenges to an all-time high, the Biden administration used the two programs to provide a lifeline to over 260 grantees across forty-eight states (see Map 1), ensuring schools had the resources necessary to address this crisis. These grants have allowed schools to expand access to care, lower student-to-mental health professional ratios, and foster a culture of well-being—ensuring that students receive timely support before crises escalate into tragic incidents.
Map 1
The expansion of the programs in 2022 was made possible by funding through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), marking an unprecedented federal investment in school-based mental health. Bipartisan electeds at the time recognized the urgent need for new mental health support in schools, and met the moment by expanding the Department of Education’s mental health grant programs.
Due to overwhelming demand from districts, higher education institutions, and states, the Biden administration continued investing in the SBMH and MHSP programs even after all BSCA funds were allocated. After BSCA funds were exhausted, the Department of Education used 2024 School Safety and National Activity (SSNA) funds to meet the mental health needs of schools across the country. This was a choice—and it was and remains the right and most efficient choice. Because these SBMH and MHSP grants were not meant to merely be temporary solutions—they were and remain strategic investments in long-term, sustainable mental health infrastructure and make schools healthier and safer for all students.
The Department of Education’s Crucial Role as Administrator
The Department of Education is the most efficient and effective agency to support schools in expanding access to mental health services because it is uniquely positioned at the intersection of education and student well-being. ED has been staffed with experts who deeply understand the research on school based mental health, the realities of school systems, the limitations educators face, and the infrastructure needed to integrate mental health supports seamlessly into learning environments without sacrificing academic instruction. The agency has direct lines to school leaders, state education departments, and higher education institutions, allowing it to swiftly implement evidence-based programs and ensure funding reaches those who need it most. Schools are not hospitals or clinics; they require solutions tailored to the educational setting, and no agency is better equipped to provide that guidance than the one dedicated to student success at every level.
Examples of Federal Grants Supporting Local Efforts
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is expanding mental health access for students with $19 million in support from MHSP and SBMH. Federal funds will allow GCPS to hire and train more than thirty new school-based mental health professionals and place additional counselors directly in schools, increasing access to critical services for students struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma. The grants will also help the district develop partnerships with local universities to train future school counselors and social workers, creating a sustainable pipeline of mental health professionals. With student mental health concerns at an all-time high, this funding ensures that thousands of students—many of whom might not otherwise have access to care—receive the support they need to succeed academically and personally.
Wake County Public Schools (WCPSS) is investing $14.1 million from these grants to ensure that every WCPSS school has a dedicated mental health provider. The district will use funding to hire twenty therapists to provide direct services to students, three instructional assistants to support students in crisis, two school social workers to manage the expanded program, one clinical supervisor to oversee therapists and clinical programs, and one program manager to coordinate all mental health services. The grant will also support increased training for licensed staff and those pursuing clinical licensure, as well as fund a records management system to improve service tracking. This investment will make a tangible difference by ensuring that students receive timely, professional mental health support, leading to better academic and personal outcomes.
Equity and Sustainability
These federal grants are designed to support underserved and high-need schools, ensuring that all students—regardless of zip code—have access to professional mental health services. Persistent shortages of school psychologists, counselors, and social workers, coupled with limited state and local funding, have left too many students without the support they need. Without federal investment, students in low-income and rural communities would continue to face barriers to mental health care, negatively affecting their academic success and long-term well-being.
For example, the Ujima Center for School Counseling Scholars at Bowie State University, funded through the federal Mental Health Service Professional (MHSP) grant, is dedicated to increasing the number of highly trained school counselors in underserved communities. This transformative program covers 75 percent tuition and $500 in books, and provides a free laptop and stipends for those in the program completing internship or practicum. By removing financial barriers for students dedicated to making a difference in K–12 schools, the program is designed to strengthen the pipeline of much needed school counselors while equipping future counselors with the skills to address the mental health needs of traditionally underserved students. The Ujima Center is not only expanding access to critical services but also ensuring that more schools—especially those in high-need areas—have the support necessary to foster student well-being and success.
The Cost of Inaction
Failing to sustain these federal programs would have devastating consequences for students, schools, and communities. Without continued investment, many districts would be forced to scale back mental health services, increase counselor caseloads, and leave students without vital support systems. Schools would struggle to maintain the progress made, and students—especially those in underresourced communities—would bear the burden of reduced access to care.
Federal investment in school-based mental health is not just a moral imperative—it is an economic necessity. By addressing mental health challenges through qualified mental health professionals, these programs reduce long-term costs associated with untreated mental health conditions, improve student outcomes, and create healthier, more productive communities. Without these investments, schools might have to discontinue training programs or layoff trusted mental health professionals. We must continue supporting these grants to build a future where every student has the stability, resilience, and resources needed to succeed in school and beyond.
Tags: mental health, youth mental health, department of education