State Education Department Releases Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health System Briefs

In recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) announced the development of a series of briefs designed to help districts and schools provide students with mental health services that support their well-being and academic success. The New York State Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health System briefs were developed to meet the growing demand for schools to establish, strengthen, and sustain systems that promote student wellness through prevention, intervention, and ongoing support within the learning environment.

Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, "Academic success and student mental health are deeply interconnected, and schools play a critical role in ensuring students' needs are fully supported. Strong school-based mental health systems help create learning environments where students feel safe, valued, and prepared to fully engage in rigorous learning. These briefs will serve as an important resource for districts and schools as they strengthen their systems of care and build sustainable supports that promote student well-being and long-term success."

Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, "Mental health in schools must be a priority, not an afterthought. Students learn best when their mental well-being is supported, and early intervention and coordinated services help ensure they can fully engage in learning and overcome challenges. A proactive approach is essential to helping young people thrive, and these briefs provide schools with a strong framework for connecting students and families with meaningful supports both in school and throughout their communities."

The briefs were created by NYSED's Office of Student Support Services, using the comprehensive school-based mental health systems model developed by the National Center for School Mental Health. This model provides a framework for student wellness that emphasizes prevention, equity, and coordinated systems of care, while also building long-term systems, rather than relying only on isolated programs or crisis response. The briefs are a resource for schools to use at their discretion and support local decision-making guided by district priorities, needs assessment data, and other applicable guidance.

Each of the six briefs focuses on a major component of a comprehensive school mental health system, providing an introductory framework on School Leadership; Mental Health Teaming; Family and Community Partnerships; School Climate; Promotion and Prevention; and Targeted and Intensive Interventions. The briefs can be used by district and school personnel responsible for school-based mental health supports for students and staff, including:

• District leadership (board of education members, superintendents, central office staff)
• Building leaders (principals and assistant principals)
• Student support staff (school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, school nurses)
• MTSS, school improvement, and/or school climate teams
• Community-based mental health partners and school-community partnership teams

The New York State Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health System briefs were developed to align with the social-emotional competencies embedded within the New York State Portrait of a Graduate. The briefs are among many resources available from NYSED's Office of Student Support Services to assist schools in their development of inclusive, supportive school environments, with a whole-child approach to student health and well-being.