Engaging with our children in mental health conversations more deeply, both at home and in school. If we want to help children during this ongoing student mental health crisis, families need resources that are private, on-demand, accessible at home — and which make it easier for them to cut through fear and shame.

Resources are best made available through schools for three main reasons: accessibility, ready availability and affordability.

Accessibility

Every child in America is guaranteed access to public education, and most families live closer to their child’s school than to a mental health facility.

Availability 

Even for families with nearby services, it can take three to six months to get an appointment with a psychologist or a therapist, and up to a year before you can actually see a child psychiatrist. Schools don’t suffer from the same structural bottlenecks as the health care system and are thus better suited as an on-demand resource for parents.

Affordability

Cost is also a major barrier. Insurance companies continue to cover mental health services differently than physical health services, so seeking help for a child can create a financial burden that heightens family stress.

The goal is to create a collective abundance of collaborative people who can support children’s mental health.

Read the full article at Hechinger Report.