The prevalence of mental illness in children is a serious public health issue that until fairly recently has been widely ignored. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 16.5% of youth aged 6 to 17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2020 — the most recent data due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NAMI also reported that 1 in 6 adolescents aged 12 to 17 experienced a major depressive episode during the same year.
Left undiagnosed or untreated, children’s mental disorders can cause a number of problems both at home and in the classroom, affecting the way children learn, behave and handle their emotions. Despite this, connecting children with the treatment they need continues to be an issue. According to Mental Health America’s 2023 edition of The State of Mental Health in America report, 59.8% of youth with major depression don’t receive treatment, and just 28% of youth with severe depression receive consistent treatment.
This gap in treatment can be explained by several factors. Counselors, parents and teachers are constantly faced with challenges that include mental health stigma, budget constraints, inadequate insurance coverage and the lack of mental health services in the community.
For students who do receive a diagnosis, schools are often the first providers of mental health resources. Counselors in particular can be critical support systems for students struggling with their mental health. Understanding the counselors’ role and how school counselors help students is crucial for individuals considering this career path.
The Role of the School Counselor
Throughout the week, many students spend more time in the classroom than they do with their parents. As such, teachers, counselors and other school staff are among the first to notice changes in behavior that could signal a mental or behavioral health issue.
Teachers arguably spend the most time with their students and may be able to spot early signs of mental health concerns, but they need assistance when such issues are identified. School counselors are a crucial part of the education team, collaborating with teachers, administrators, parents and social workers to ensure that each student receives the care and resources necessary to succeed in their academic and personal lives.
School counselors not only strive to meet the needs of students who may be struggling with their mental health, but also serve as advocates for students, using their position to improve a school’s response to mental health concerns with on-campus programs and resources.
How Do School Counselors Help Students?
School counselors help students prepare for life after graduation, helping them develop the social and academic skills necessary to make a successful transition. This may involve advising them on exploring potential careers or nurturing habits like time management. Counselors also guide students through the emotional struggles that often come with school and childhood. This can range from managing academic stress to recognizing and finding solutions to mental health concerns.
School counselors allocate much of their focus to designing and implementing programs that promote academic and personal success for all their students. These responsibilities may entail:
- Enhancing the awareness of mental health in their schools and striving to remove shame and stigma
- Providing external referrals, which may include short-term counseling or crisis intervention
- Recognizing and responding to warning signs, such as sudden changes in grades or attendance, disciplinary problems, or visible problems at home
- Providing individual focus to students about issues surrounding their mental health, academic well-being, and social and emotional needs
- Providing resources and support for teachers, administrators and parents
- Advocating on behalf of students to ensure their needs are met
Types of Student Mental Health Issues and Learning Disabilities
School counselors may encounter a wide range of mental health conditions that can impede students’ ability to thrive academically and socially. Common student mental health concerns include the following:
- Anxiety: Children who are overcome by extreme fear and worry to the point that it disrupts school, play and other activities.
- Depression: Children who are overcome with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Severe cases of depression can lead to suicidal thoughts.
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD): Children who consistently act out against others at an unusually high rate, particularly against family members or teachers. Their behaviors can include refusing to comply with rules or blaming others for their mistakes.
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Children who struggle to control impulses, have difficulty paying attention or tend to be overly active.
School counselors must also be prepared to work with students who have learning disabilities. Common learning disorders include dyslexia (difficulty with reading), dyscalculia (difficulty with math) and dysgraphia (difficulty with writing).
Additionally, school counselors must understand how to work with students who have behaviors consistent with neurodiversity. This concept represents children whose brains function differently from neurotypical children.
Barriers to Mental Health Treatment
Counselors are a vital part of the educational team, and in an ideal world, children would have adequate access to school counselors. However, when districts are confronted with budget cuts, counselors are often among the first to be laid off.
As it stands, the national student-to-counselor ratio is much higher than the 250:1 ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association. As of the 2020-21 academic year, the national average was 415:1, with some states upward of 500:1.
Additionally, counselors must also operate based on the mental health services readily available in their communities, and not all communities are equally prepared to handle mental health concerns.
When left unmet, students’ mental health needs can pose serious barriers to social and educational development. Counselors are a necessary part of the educational staff, as they have the unique qualifications required to provide education, intervention and referral services to children, parents and teachers. Although school counselors typically don’t act as long-term therapists, they help foster an environment where mental health stigma is erased, help bridge the gap between student and community resources, and make sure that the developmental needs of all students are met.
Support Student Mental Health as a Counselor
Supporting children’s mental health is vital to ensuring their long-term success. School counselors that help students manage their mental health can do more than just set them on a path toward mental well-being: they can place them in a better position to thrive socially and academically.
Wake Forest University’s online Master of Arts in Counseling program can prepare you to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children. With concentrations in clinical mental health and school counseling, the program is designed to help cultivate the knowledge and skills you need to successfully identify mental health issues and guide children through challenges. Learn how Wake Forest can help you make a difference.
Recommended Readings
Treating Anxiety in Children: Treatment Options & Tips for Parents
What Is a School Counselor? How to Help Students Thrive
What Is Human Growth and Development?
Sources:
American School Counselor Association, “The School Counselor’s Role in Student Mental Health”
American School Counselor Association, Student-to-School-Counselor Ratio 2020-2021
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Anxiety and Depression in Children
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavior or Conduct Problems in Children
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Improving Access to Children’s Mental Health Care
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, What Is ADHD?
Mental Health America, The State of Mental Health in America
MentalHealth.gov., For Educators
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health By the Numbers