The Education Sector of the recently updated National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP, 2023) was developed to assist schools, early care and education centers, and colleges and universities to establish policies and provide programmatic opportunities to support all students in adopting physically active lifestyles. The 2023 Education Sector…

Spirituality and religion (R/S) are important aspects of diversity and functioning for most people, and training in these areas for mental health professionals is needed. But how much training is enough? This paper proposes R/S training guidelines that can be used to inform coursework, practicum/internship didactic training, and supervision.

How might those of us located within post-secondary institutions support students who have experience of the mental health system in a meaningful way? Drawing on scholarship in social movement studies and a case study in Ontario, Canada, I distinguish between the prevailing mental health and wellness offerings of educational institutions and…

This article will examine the seismic impact that technology currently has and is likely to increasingly have on college mental health services, both direct and indirect. Numerous resources and suggestions are offered to assist college counseling center administrators and clinical staff make decisions aligned with best clinical, ethical,…

Early adolescents entering middle school are at a pivotal developmental phase as they become less dependent on parents/guardians and seek greater autonomy while encountering a complexity of social demands requiring them to regulate their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to achieve academic and social success. Yet, students who receive services…

Educators and caregivers can foster emotional wellbeing, growth, and resilience, contributing to a fulfilling and balanced adulthood by providing positive childhood experiences (PCEs). PCEs protect the brain and promote healing for people who have experienced adverse childhood environments (ACEs). In the presence of PCEs, adverse experiences in…

This promising practice describes a statewide effort to address the surging youth mental health crisis through the provision of Youth Mental Health First Aid training in West Virginia public schools. Youth Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based training for adults who work with youth. This interactive training increases participants'…

The purpose of this special series is to highlight how the measurement of integrity, both treatment integrity and integrity for implementation strategies, can support intervention development, evaluation, and implementation research. The seven papers and one commentary in this special series illustrate how diverse measurement approaches are used…

In response to urgent student mental health needs across Virginia's college campuses, the 2022 Virginia General Assembly appropriated funds to support a two-year mental health workforce pilot program at public institutions of higher education. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), in consultation with the Virginia Health Care…

National Teacher of the Year Sydney Chaffee discusses her struggle with anxiety and how it opened her eyes to the stigma of teacher mental health.

Project Cal-Well is a cross-agency mental health initiative led by the California Department of Education focused on building capacity for sustainable school-based mental health systems in local educational agencies (LEAs) throughout California. As part of a series highlighting the work of Project Cal-Well partners in Cohort 2 (2019-2024), this…

In this article, authors outline the prevalence of mental health disorders among students during the pandemic, highlight common strategies embedded in campuses' responses, and provide recommendations for campuses to support students' mental health.

This report describes and synthesizes implementation determinants and strategies to promote uptake and sustained implementation of comprehensive school mental health and trauma-sensitive practices in schools. The present synthesis of studies and reports emphasizes use of relevant and efficient practices with empirical support at the state,…

The transition to postsecondary education can be challenging for any student, particularly for those facing impending personal crises, mental disorders, or with undiagnosed disabilities. The link between mental health and academic performance has been well established. Both work in tandem to predict important areas of concern for colleges and…

This brief focuses on the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) and its efforts to transform schools into centers of wellness. SCOE serves 13 school districts with nearly 250,000 students, prioritizing mental health professionals in every school and creating systems for all adults to contribute to supporting a school-community continuum of…