Tell Congress to Expand Mental Health Services in Schools

As United Methodists, we must remain diligent in advocating for access to expansive mental health services (2016 Book of Discipline, The Social Principles, The Social Community). In our collective efforts to promote compassion and eradicate stigma regarding mental health, we must also work towards a structure in which everyone can access equitable care. 

Representatives Rosa DeLauro, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Jahana Hayes introduced a bipartisan bill to address mental health services.The Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2024 seeks to extend the School Based Mental Health Service Grants program to increase the number of mental health professionals available at schools. 

In the United States, one in six youth aged 6 to 17 experience a mental health disorder each year, and half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14. In 2019, 15% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported receiving mental health services at school, compared to 17% who saw a specialty provider. School-based mental health services are delivered by trained mental health professionals who are employed by schools, such as school psychologists, school counselors, school social workers, and school nurses. By removing barriers such as transportation, scheduling conflicts, and stigma, school-based mental health services can help students access needed services during the school day (National Alliance on Mental Illness, www.nami.org/).    If passed, the Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act will have a profound impact on the mental well-being of students. Contact your representative now to advocate for this much-needed legislation. 

Contact your elected officials today through the form below and ask them to pass the Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2024.