Mental Health Resources for School Staff and Students

Mental Health Resources for School Staff and Students

School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) is a comprehensive continuum of support facilitated in schools to promote the well-being of the school community and mitigate the impact of behavioral health challenges. SBMH systems align best practices and streamline resources as school professionals collaborate with families and community partners to provide safe and healthy learning environments for students. The SBMH section supports this work through collaboration and technical assistance. 

Office Hours

Introduction to the Missouri Framework for School-Based Mental Health Training

School mental health teams are invited to join staff from the DESE School-Based Mental Health and School Counseling & Student Wellness sections to learn more about the Missouri Framework for School-Based Mental Health (SBMH Framework).

Foundations of School-Based Mental Health Training for School Teams

Join the Interagency SBMH Training Team for a free virtual training to learn about the components of the Missouri Framework for SBMH, review national evidence-based best practices, complete a school mental health quality assessment, and create goals with your team and leave training with actionable next steps. 8:30am-3:00 pm

 

ListServ

Sign up for the School-Based Mental Health Listserv here

The School-Based Mental Health ListServ is an informational tool for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of College and Career Readiness, to communicate with School-Based Mental Health Professionals (such as school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, and school nurses) and those supporting mental health in schools.

SchoolLink

SchoolLink provides free problem-solving support for Missouri school professionals in a trusting, confidential setting. If you are experiencing stress, navigating a tough situation, or just have a school-related question and are not sure who to ask, SchoolLink’s masters-level professionals (with backgrounds in counseling, behavioral intervention, psychology, and educational leadership) can work with you to problem-solve and connect to resources to improve your workplace well-being.

Contact SchoolLink for free, confidential support:

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Call or text: 844-686-6854
Email: SchoolLink@missouri.edu 

Training Opportunities

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, through Project AWARE, is partnering with Mental Health First Aid Missouri (MHFA) — operated by the Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) and the Missouri Institute of Mental Health (MIMH) — to provide two evidence-based professional development trainings to schools across the state at no cost.  

  • Youth MHFA - is a skills-based training that teaches adults how to identify, understand and respond to an adolescent (ages 12-18) who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge.
  • Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) - is a suicide prevention training program designed to help people recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and know how to respond.

These training sessions are appropriate for any member of your school staff, or other close partners (such as after school programs, bus drivers, or parents/caregivers). If you’re interested in bringing these trainings to your staff, visit DESE's page on the MHFA website for more information and to register. If you have questions about these opportunities, please reach out to the MHFA Missouri team at 314-516-8431 or info@mhfamissouri.org.

Missouri Framework for School-Based Mental Health

The Missouri Framework for School-Based Mental Health organizes core features of a comprehensive continuum of supports that schools can use to plan, implement, and continuously improve their school-based mental health systems. 

Grant Information

Project AWARE

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has received a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for FY2021 Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education)

The purpose of this grant is to build or expand capacity through partnerships and collaboration between state and local systems to promote healthy development of school-aged youth. The funding will be used to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan of activities, services, and strategies to decrease youth violence. State and local systems will work together to (1) increase awareness of mental health issues among school-aged youth; (2) provide training for school personnel and other adults who connect with-school aged youth to detect and respond to mental health issues; and (3) connect school-aged youth who may have behavioral health issues, including serious emotional disturbance (SED) or serious mental illness (SMI), and their families, to needed services.

Through the grant funding, we are currently partnering with the Missouri Department of Mental Health and three Missouri school districts.

Kansas City Public Schools
Kennett School District
Riverview Gardens School District

Each district has entered into an agreement to increase awareness of mental health in schools and build resiliency to mental health issues using the tiered approach.

Stronger Connections

The purpose of the Stronger Connections Grant is to provide students safe, healthy, and supportive learning opportunities and environments.

Missouri Healthy Schools (MHS) provides school leaders with resources, training and actionable insights to foster early, positive health behaviors that improve conditions for academic achievement.

Previous grants:

Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Pursuant to Section 170.048, RSMo, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) developed a model policy regarding youth suicide awareness and prevention. This model policy may be adopted by Missouri school districts to meet the requirements of Section 170.048, RSMo which provides as follows:

  1. By July 1, 2018, each district shall adopt a policy for youth suicide awareness and prevention, including plans for how the district will provide for the training and education of its district employees.
  2. Each district's policy shall address, but not be limited to, the following: 

(1) Strategies that can help identify students who are at possible risk of suicide; 

(2) Strategies and protocols for helping students at possible risk of suicide; and 

(3) Protocols for responding to a suicide death.

This model policy is intended to serve as a template for districts in developing suicide prevention policy. Districts are encouraged to adapt and customize the model policy to best address and meet the needs of their school community.

Pursuant to Section 170.047, RSMo, DESE has developed guidelines suitable for training or professional development in youth suicide awareness and prevention based upon best practices within the field of suicide prevention. These guidelines can be found within the Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Model Policy. 

Resources related to suicide prevention, intervention/crisis response, and postvention support:

  • Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training is available to Missouri schools at no cost. See more information in the “Training Opportunities" section above or visit https://mhfamissouri.org/dese/.
  • The Suicide Prevention & 988 Guide for Missouri Schools includes information and resources to support schools in their ongoing efforts to prevent youth suicide, respond effectively and navigate a suicide crisis, and understand how to engage with Missouri’s behavioral health crisis services.
  • Missouri 988 provides a variety of resources for staff, students, and families, including both a virtual toolkit with images and videos as well as a physical toolkit with free materials such as stickers, pens, and magnets.
  • The Missouri Suicide Prevention Network coordinates statewide suicide prevention efforts outlined in the Missouri Suicide Prevention Plan. They offer resources such as virtual networking, a training resource directory, an annual conference, and committees including the Suicide Prevention in Schools Committee.
  • The Missouri Department of Mental Health offers information related to suicide prevention in Missouri, free training programs, and Suicide Prevention Month. Their TeachWell Microlearning for Educators program includes short lessons on suicide, 988, and the school resource guide.
  • Missouri’s Crisis Continuum includes three core elements: someone to talk to (988), someone to respond (Mobile Crisis Response), and somewhere to go (Behavioral Health Crisis Centers).
  • The Suicide Prevention Resource Center offers information on engaging in evidence-based practices and selecting or developing a program, including a Best Practices Registry of suicide prevention programs and interventions.
Trauma-Informed Schools

Pursuant to Section 161.1050, RSMo, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has established the “Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative.”

Each school district shall provide the address of the Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative page to all parents of the students in its district before October first of each school year. Please visit that page for more information and resources for schools and parents regarding the trauma-informed approach and trauma-informed schools.

Mental Health Awareness Curriculum

Section 170.307, RSMo requires LEAs to provide mental health awareness training in Missouri schools. This training must be provided as part of the districts health and/or physical education curriculum.

Students graduating in the 2022-23 school year, and each year after must receive a minimum of two hours of mental health awareness training that aligns with DESE’s Social-Emotional Learning Standards and the requirements of 5 CSR 20-200.275 Mental Health Awareness Training. Mental health awareness training must include the following domains:

  • Defining Mental Health
  • Identifying Strategies for Achieving and Maintaining Sound Mental Wellness
  • Decreasing the Stigma of Mental Health Concerns
  • Recognizing How to Connect to Services When Needed

Mental Health Awareness Curriculum 

School-Based Mental Health Professionals

Caring for the health and well-being of school staff and students is fundamental to advancing wellness in our school communities. Appropriately qualified and/or credentialed SBMH professionals—school counselors, school nurses, school social workers, and school psychologists—lead SBMH systems via interdisciplinary problem-solving teams in local school communities. 

School Counselor resources:

School Nurse resources:

School Social Worker resources:

School Psychologist resources:

 Additional Resources  
  • Missouri Family Resources  is a free statewide resource website and mobile app that houses a variety of local resources. It is designed to be used by both families and professionals.
  • Missouri Healthy Schools provides school leaders with resources, training and actionable insights to foster early, positive health behaviors that improve conditions for academic achievement.
  • SchoolLink provides free problem-solving support for Missouri school professionals in a trusting, confidential setting via phone call or text.
  • Missouri Department of Mental Health: Children’s Services provides a variety of supports and services to address chronic mental health, developmental and relationship challenges from early childhood through transition aged youth.
  • TeachWell includes over 60 micro-lessons to support the mental health and well-being of educators.
  • Early Psychosis Care Center provides a toolkit for educators to help foster positive, informed conversations about psychosis.
  • LifeLaunch Missouri is a website designed to help young adults navigate and thrive in adulthood. LifeLaunch can also be used by professionals who work with young adults.
  • Systems of Care is a coordinated network of services and supports for children, youth, and young adults with mental health and/or other challenges, along with their families.
  • Youth Behavioral Health Liaisons are community-employed mental health professionals who support youth experiencing behavioral health challenges by quickly connecting them and their families with resources within their community.
  • Missouri Crisis Resource Contact Directory provides contact information for your local Youth Behavioral Health Liaison as well as crisis resource information.
  • Center for Child Well-Being supports parents, professionals, and community organizations in promoting child well-being and mental health.