Mental Health in Schools Series
Many of the most pressing problems in education -- chronic absence, discipline, low achievement and behavior problems -- can be traced back to one source: students' issues with mental health.
Yet most schools, and the broader education system, are woefully unprepared to help the more than 5 million students who struggle with mental health. In fact, research suggests only one in five of those students will get the treatment they need.
But schools and parents can play a vital role in identifying and helping these children. In many cases, though, they don't know how and let students fall through the cracks.
As the new school year begins, with more than 50 million students heading back to class, NPR Ed, working with Member station WAMU and correspondent Kavitha Cardoza, will launch a series of stories based on a months-long reporting project exploring the pressing need for more resources to help students deal with mental health issues.
The coverage will examine solutions and recommendations for how schools and families can better identify and serve these struggling students.
Here are some of the stories NPR will follow:
STUDENT SUICIDE; NPR.org
The 8 Myths of Suicide. Kavitha Cardoza reports.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IMPACTS CLASSROOMS; Weekend All Things Considered
When students are troubled by domestic violence at home and act out in class, it affects the entire class. Here's a look at one Virginia school's efforts to identify these students right away and get them the help they need. Gabrielle Emanuel reports.
Week 2; Beginning September 5
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN WE GET IT RIGHT; NPR.org
Here's what a comprehensive approach to school mental health it looks like. Meg Anderson reports.
STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH: BRONX; All Things Considered
It's vital to catch mental health problems early. Yet schools just aren't set up to do that. We visit a pediatric center in the Bronx that's considered a model for preventive treatment and working with schools and parents and we see from the inside what it looks like. Kavitha Cardoza reports.
PRESCHOOL SAFETY NET; Morning Edition
The state of Connecticut has built a remarkable system to prevent preschool suspensions, providing child behavior experts to any daycare or pre-K in the state, public or private, that's having trouble with a disruptive child. And a new study of the program, out of Yale, suggests it's having a big impact. Cory Turner reports.
PARENTS, SCHOOLS AND ANTIDEPRESSANTS;
For parents with a child on medication, navigating the school medical system can be a hassle. Here's a profile of one family that's been dealing with this for years. Jenny Gold of Kaiser Health News reports.
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