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and Wellness Portal
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School-Based Mental Health

When someone experiences emotional difficulty, it may affect their general daily functioning. For students, this is often evident in academics. Frequently, school-related problems may be symptomatic of those troubles. School-based mental health professionals can assist families in connecting to community mental health resources.

School-Based Mental Health Services
A guide to resources for students and families

The School District of Lee County offers a multi-tiered system of support for mental health and wellness. Each school has a School Mental Health Team (SMHT) that meets weekly to discuss how best to assist each student that may need additional support. The school-based team facilitates the home and school partnership to address concerns that impact the student’s well-being and academic success. SMHTs include helping professionals such as school counselors, social workers, licensed mental health professionals, school psychologists, and school nurses. Students must have a Consent for School-Based Services completed and signed by the parent/guardian to receive school-based mental health services.

Types of School-Based Mental Health Support

Mental Health Consultation

Parent/guardian collaboration is key to identifying and activating the appropriate school-based mental health services for a student. A parent/guardian, teacher, or school staff member is encouraged to consult with the SMHT whenever there is a concern for a student who may be experiencing a mental health challenge. Screening tools to further assess the level of student mental health support needs are available with parent/guardian consent. SMHTs also assist with suicide and threat assessment as necessary.

Let’s Talk!

Reach out to a member of your School Mental Health Team to discuss mental health challenges your student may be experiencing.

Check-In/Check-Out

Short-term individual support is available for students with mental health or situational concerns. This intervention may be an especially good fit for students who would benefit from brief check-ins related to academic, social, or emotional support (e.g., difficult transitions, positive behaviors).

Small Group

Psycho-educational groups are part of targeted interventions for students at risk of developing a mental health challenge. These groups focus on prevention and promotion of wellness through the use of small groups and embedded strategies (e.g., teaching self-regulation strategies for a student experiencing anxiety).

Intensive Level

Individual or small group counseling sessions using evidence-based interventions may be activated with parent/guardian consent and facilitated at a student’s school by a Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP).

Community Referral Pathways

Mental health support can continue outside of school and in addition to school-based support. In collaboration with the parent/guardian and with their signed consent, an appropriate mental health agency referral is generated.

Support Resources

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, call…

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call 988

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME or HELLO to 741741

Mobile Crisis Response Team: Call 844-395-4432

SAMHSA National Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

School Mental Health Team Members

School Counselor(s)
School Social Worker
School Psychologist
School Nurse
Licensed Mental Health Professional

Licensed Mental Health Professionals

Licensed Mental Health Professionals (LMHPs) have master's degrees in social work, mental health, or marriage and family counseling.  LMHPs hold active licensure via the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling, under the Florida Department of Health.  LMHPs adhere to all confidentiality guidelines as outlined by the Department of Health and Professional Code of Ethics.  

In collaboration with the school-based mental health team, LMHPs work to:

  • Provide direct support of mental health services, including school-based individual and group counseling
  • Train and build the capacity of school personnel to respond to mental health challenges within our student population
  • When needed, make referrals to outside agencies 
  • Respond to crises

School Counselors

Counseling and guidance programs have undergone an evolution over several decades and are critical to help prepare students to meet the challenges of the future. Lee County school counselors promote academic, college, and career readiness and social/emotional development for all students.

Classroom Guidance Lessons: Helps students understand themselves and others. Through classroom guidance, school counselors help students develop peer relationships; effective social, decision-making, and study skills; effective communication, conflict resolution, and coping strategies; and more.

Individual Student Planning: Helps students set goals, establish academic and career plans, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and prepare for the transition to the next stage of their lives.

Responsive Services: Assists students with particular needs, such as adjusting to a new school, coping with grief following a crisis, and dealing with substance abuse or other risky behaviors. These services are provided through individual and small group counseling, peer facilitation and consultation, and referrals to professionals trained in mental health, welfare, and other specialties.

System Support: Enhances school climate and relationships among members of the school community. School Counselors coordinate parent outreach services, community support services, and consultations with other faculty and staff.

School Social Workers

School Social Workers are highly trained professionals with a Master's Degree from an institution of higher learning.  School Social Workers are itinerants, serving multiple different schools or programs either daily, weekly, or in an on-call capacity. 

  • Enforcement of compulsory school attendance laws
  • Home visits and outreach services to students and families
  • Completes social development histories to assist with a student's psycho-educational evaluation
  • Serves on the Child Study Team at each school to assist students experiencing attendance, academic, social, emotional, and/or health problems
  • Participates in staffing with school personnel, parents, and community agencies to provide coordinated evaluations and planning for students
  • Coordinates services with other agencies to develop a comprehensive service delivery system, accessing community, medical, mental health, and social welfare services
  • Crisis prevention and intervention
  • Advocacy for students, parents, and the school system

School Psychologists

School Psychologists must be credentialed by the state in which they work and may be nationally certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board (NSPCB).  The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) sets standards for graduate preparation, credentialing, professional practice, and ethics.  The NASP Practice Model (2020) outlines the comprehensive services that school psychologists are encouraged to provide. 

  • Conduct comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations
  • Conduct data analysis and problem-solving of student learning needs
  • Provide social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health consultation
  • Consult with families, teachers, administrators, and school-based mental health professionals
  • Work to improve student support strategies

 

Review the School-Based Mental Health Services Resource Guide for more details.