The mental health culture of a school environment directly relates to the risk for violence or lack of safety. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that up to one in five school-aged children in the United States have a diagnosable mental health disorder. However, only about half of all children in need of help for their mental health or substance use issues receive it.

According to the National Association of School Psychologists, we “must engage in a serious discussion about how we can improve our efforts to provide for the mental health needs of our children and youth; not just to prevent horrific acts of violence, but to support their well-being, academic achievement and success in life.”