Published:
November 2024
Authors:
Vanderbilt University and VUMC Mental Health Research in Tennessee Schools team
About the Brief
Like many places, Tennessee is reckoning with limited mental health treatment capacity. In response, school districts in Tennessee have expanded their capacity to identify and respond to students’ mental health needs, using the state’s Coordinated School Health approach supplemented by state and federal grants. However, changes to school funding at the state level and the end of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds may alter the ability of schools to sustain this level of support for students.
This brief examines how mental health diagnoses have shifted over time, which students are likely to have mental health needs in Tennessee, and whether and how school-based health centers improve mental health outcomes among school-aged children in Tennessee.
Key Findings
Rates of diagnosed mental health conditions (ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, self- harm, suicide ideation or attempt) among low-income, Tennessee public school students have been progressively increasing throughout the state.
Tennessee students who are chronically absent and more likely to have experienced school disciplinary actions, as well as students with special educational needs and those who are homeless, are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition.
On average, Tennessee school districts that introduced school-based health centers saw a 7% reduction in the diagnosis of mental health conditions among low-income students compared to districts without this resource.
Suggested Citation
Vanderbilt University & VUMC Mental Health Research in Tennessee Schools Team. (2024). Examining the role of school-based health centers in improving mental health outcomes for Tennessee students. Tennessee Education Research Alliance.