US Schools Struggle to Meet Students' Mental Health Needs

Chalkbeat?found that among 18 of the country’s largest school districts, 12 started the school year this autumn with fewer counselors or?psychologists?than they had in the fall of 2019.

As a result, many school mental health professionals must work with a high number of cases that go beyond recommended limits, experts say. Many students are having to wait for urgently needed help.

Some of the extra need for support has been taken by social workers. The number of social workers has grown by nearly 50 percent since before the pandemic, national data shows. But social workers have different training from other mental health professionals and have other responsibilities, too.

Many schools that have wanted to hire more mental health workers simply cannot find them. School psychologist positions have been especially hard to fill. With their training, school psychologists provide one-on-one counseling and help students who are at risk of suicide.

The?Chalkbeat?analysis found that the number of school social workers was up 48 percent this fall compared with before the pandemic. The number of school counselors was up 12 percent and the number of school psychologists increased by just 4 percent.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press.