Mental Health

Image of counselor and young girl

Social and emotional well-being and positive mental health are essential to overall health and are affected by many factors—the family, school, and community environments in which we are raised—our genetics, physical health, coping skills, and the unexpected traumatic events we may experience. Social exclusion, bullying, and poverty are known risk factors affecting mental health. One in five children are reported to have a behavioral or mental disorder, yet only one-third needing services is ever referred for care.

Addressing the full continuum from mental health promotion to prevention, treatment, and recovery, our work promotes social emotional learning and positive mental health through curricula and experiences for young people to learn coping skills and by assessing and improving school and community environments to reduce violence and bullying.

Related Topics

Child Welfare
School Climate and Safety
Social and Emotional Learning
Substance Use Disorders
Trauma-Informed Care

Latest Work

28 May 2020
Q & A

A Quick Word with: Kathleen Guarino on Mental Health During a Health Crisis

Kathleen Guarino is a senior technical assistance consultant at AIR with expertise in child mental health, trauma, and trauma-informed care. In this Q&A, she discusses the challenges—and some unexpected opportunities—around mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine.
Image of interlocking colorful blocks
22 May 2020
Brief

Recognizing the Role of Afterschool and Summer Programs and Systems in Reopening and Rebuilding

The need for safety, support, and trusting, reciprocal relationships is especially important as we work to rebuild and return stronger than before COVID-19. This resource describes the role that afterschool and summer programs and systems can play and offers strategies for afterschool and summer programs and school leaders to work together in support of youth, families, and the community.
21 May 2020
Brief

COVID-19 and Whole Child Efforts

Several national organizations have offered frameworks and resources for planning for the reopening school buildings closed due to COVID-19. Policymakers and practitioners will need a shared understanding of the common whole child terms and phrases as they plan and work to mobilize student supports. This resource provides definitions for key terms along with an analysis of the inclusion of these terms in the various reopening guidance documents.
Image of young girl getting onto a school bus
1 May 2020
Spotlight

Mental Health Awareness

Raising awareness and increasing the understanding of mental health can change the way society views and responds to this complex issue. AIR promotes positive mental health through school and community-based approaches involving youth, families, school, health care providers, and other stakeholders.
18 Mar 2020
Spotlight

AIR’s COVID-19 Response and Resources

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. This virus, also known as COVID-19, has dramatically changed the lives of people around the globe, touching all aspects of life, from health care to education to the economy. In this new world of rapidly changing information about the virus, AIR seeks to be a source of evidence-based information that examines and begins to understand the various complexities of this crisis.
Project

Social and Emotional Learning at Pasco County Schools

In the aftermath of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, education leaders in Pasco County renewed their commitment to improve school safety and student mental health—which, according to research, can also improve academic learning. With guidance from AIR experts, a core team of district and school stakeholders examined research and existing efforts that provide students with the skills to engage in positive social interactions, master academic content, and become successful students.
13 May 2019
In the Field

What’s Changed the Most in the Mental Health Field? AIR Experts Provide Perspective in Recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month

Just like physical health, mental health is crucial to everyone’s well-being. For Mental Health Awareness Month, five AIR experts reflected on three of the biggest trends and shifts they’ve observed from their collective years in the field.
Image of girl with flag holding soldier's hand
9 May 2019
Brief

How Public Datasets Can Address Data Obstacles in Pay for Success: A Demonstration for Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities

As part of its Pay for Success work, AIR developed a workaround to common data obstacles these projects face. AIR was contracted to develop the evaluation design for the San Diego-based Project (re)Launch, which sought to improve employment and health outcomes for veterans with service-connected disabilities by providing intensive case management and wraparound supports.
Project

Project (re)LAUNCH: San Diego Veterans Employment Pay for Success Initiative

The transition back to civilian life is difficult for many veterans. Often times, military training does not directly translate to civilian skills and available jobs back home. Addressing these challenges is the central aim of the San Diego Veterans Employment Pay for Success Initiative, Project (re)LAUNCH, a partnership of the San Diego Workforce Partnership; Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc.; 2-1-1 San Diego; and AIR.
Image of young adults conferring over a laptop
22 Aug 2017
Brief

Mental Health Needs of Children and Youth: The Benefits of Having Schools Assess Available Programs and Services

How are schools responding to the rise in the number of students needing services that promote positive mental health and provide early intervention and treatment? This brief explores how evaluation and assessment of a school’s mental health programming can benefit students, families, schools, and communities.
2 Aug 2017
Spotlight

Youth Violence Prevention

The complex factors contributing to youth violence in the U.S. and abroad are found at the individual, family, community, and societal levels.

1 Jan 2017
ESSA

ESSA │Family and Community Engagement

Mounting evidence indicates that family engagement in education is a necessary component for positive student outcomes and overall school improvement. AIR uses a practical approach that is based on a framework grounded in research to build state, district, and school capacity, helping them to recognize their individual and collective responsibility for family engagement.
1 Jan 2017
ESSA

ESSA │Health and Wellness

Social and emotional well-being, and positive mental and physical health are essential to overall student success. Individual factors like genetics, physical health, coping skills, and the unexpected traumatic events can impact student outcomes. By assessing and improving school and community environments, AIR works to reduce risk factors, promote health, and respond to students’ needs.
1 Jul 2016
Journal Article

Developing a Federal Research Agenda for Positive Youth Development: Identifying Gaps in the Field and an Effective Consensus Building Approach

The field of positive youth development (PYD) is at an important crossroads in scope and future research directions. This paper describes an effective consensus building process that representatives from 16 federal agencies used to develop a PYD product and research agenda.

Ken Martinez
25 Mar 2016
Video

Long Story Short: How Can Schools Reduce Disparities in Disciplinary Action and Promote Student Mental Health?

In this video interview, Ken Martinez discusses steps schools can take to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in school discipline and increase access to mental health services for students who struggle after being expelled or suspended.
10 Mar 2016
Journal Article

Enhancing Prevention through Technical Assistance: What a Research Synthesis Tells Us

Behavioral health problems are widely known to affect one in five people in the Unites States, with 75% of lifetime cases of mental illness beginning by age 24.

12 Aug 2015
Report

Focusing on the Whole Student: Final Report on the Massachusetts Wraparound Zones

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Wraparound Zones (WAZ) Initiative is designed to create coordinated district systems that allow schools to proactively and systematically address students’ nonacademic needs. AIR's evaluation of the initiative found that students in WAZ schools experienced greater gains in English language arts and math achievement than students in similar schools that did not receive the grant. These effects were significant after two and three years of implementation, with particularly strong gains in the grades 3 and 4 for limited English proficient students.
Allison Gandhi
11 Aug 2015
Video

Long Story Short: How Can Non-Academic Supports in Schools Lead to Better Student Achievement?

Issues besides academics, such as mental health and safety, often affect student attendance and learning. In this interview, AIR principal researcher Allison Gandhi discusses how schools can foster well-being by providing non-academic support services, enabling students to thrive and achieve better academic outcomes.
12 May 2015
Video

How Mental Health Care Can Best Serve Children and Adolescents

Many children and adolescents who experience mental health issues do not receive the care they need. In this video, Galen Cole, AIR principal researcher, explains how the mental health care system can better serve children, adolescents, and their families and ensure they receive the treatment they need.
23 Jan 2015
Guide

Treating Substance Use Problems in Youth Who Also Have Mental Health Conditions

Substance use and mental health conditions often co-occur among youth, but caregivers often do not know what to do when youth show signs of substance use problems. The Caregiver Guide: Substance Use Disorder Treatment Planning for Youth with Co-Occurring Disorders is designed to provide caregivers with a single source of information relevant to treating co-occurring substance use disorders and mental health conditions.
1 Sep 2014
Report

Applying Medicaid Flexibility to Meet Behavioral Health Needs of Young People

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that 13–20% of children living in the U.S. experience a mental disorder in a given year. The prevalence of these conditions is on the rise, and in the wake of recent tragedies, addressing the behavioral health needs of young people is an especially critical priority. This report examines states’ efforts to improve behavioral health care and outcomes for young people, and in cost-effective ways.
11 Aug 2014
Spotlight

Funding Strategies to Build Sustainable School Mental Health Programs

A series of issue briefs developed by AIR staff and partners for the Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health offers answers to key questions regarding sustainable school mental health programs that serve children and youth with serious mental health needs.

adult and child holding hands
5 May 2014
Brief

The Role of System of Care Communities in Developing and Sustaining School Mental Health Services

In honor of National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day and National Mental Health Awareness Month, AIR highlights the role schools and communities can play through systems of care to develop supports and services for children and youth with or at risk of mental health or other behavioral challenges.
Project

Addressing Mental Health Disparities

Social and economic factors have an influence on health and mental health. The stresses of living in poverty and of social exclusion due to race or sexual orientation have negative health results. Disparities in health status are large, persistent, and increasing—especially for populations of color. AIR is partnering with the Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center at Morehouse School of Medicine to prepare and disseminate research findings on mental health disparities.
Karen Francis
30 Apr 2014
Presentation

Lock Up or Lock Down? Why and How We Can and Should Improve Mental Health Care in America

The Health Disparities Leadership Summit brought together healthcare practitioners and providers, researchers, policymakers, and legislators from across the nation to discuss solutions to racial and ethnic disparities in health care. AIR senior researcher Karen B. Francis served as moderator and panelist for the session Lock Up or Lock Down?: Why and How We Can and Should Improve Mental Health Care in America.
3 Mar 2014
Report

Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents: A Synthesis of Research and a September 2013 Listening Session

About 1.7 million youth in the U.S. have at least one parent in prison. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the number of parents held in prisons has risen 79 percent from 1991-2007. Youth with incarcerated parents fare worse than other youth on a range of educational and physical and mental health outcomes. Released at the end of January, Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents: A Synthesis of Research and a September 2013 Listening Session synthesizes research and the voices and opinions of mentoring experts, practitioners, parents and youth shared at a listening session.
8 Oct 2013
Guide

Blueprint for Using Data to Reduce Disparities/Disproportionalities in Human Services and Behavioral Health Care

Disparities and disproportionalities in human services and behavioral health care—such as lack of access to prevention and treatment services—can threaten child, youth, and family development and well-being, as well as performance in school and on the job. This Blueprint enables communities and states to develop and implement data-driven strategies through a step-by-step process.

1 Sep 2013
Report

Health Reform and Immigrant Children, Youth, and Families: Opportunities and Challenges for Advancing Behavioral Health

Few situations pose a greater adjustment challenge than moving to a new country. The Affordable Care Act recognizes the impact of disparities in health status, health insurance coverage, treatment, and health services on vulnerable populations in the United States. This issue brief provides substantial insight into how the ACA addresses the unique health care challenges confronting children, youth, and families who have immigrated to the United States.
14 Jun 2013
Guide

Guide for Father Involvement in Systems of Care

Coinciding with Father's Day, the Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health released an updated Guide for Father Involvement in Systems of Care to share information about the positive influences of fathers on their children’s lives and potential negative consequences when they are not involved.
8 Oct 2012
Report

Race to the Top–District Guidance and Action Brief

AIR and Turnaround for Children have authored two white papers to support districts who are applying for the Race to the Top – District (RTTD) competition. The two white papers provide guidelines for establishing foundational conditions as outlined by RTTD and for using a specific set of metrics to measure their effectiveness and impact.

Project

Substance Abuse Youth Topic Page on Youth.gov

AIR's Substance Abuse Youth topic page on Youth.gov provides information and resources for youth-serving agencies. The new topic provides information and resources focused on substance abuse prevalence, risk and protective factors, warning signs, screening assessments, and prevention and treatment.
Project

AIR Experts Co-author Volume on Improving Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes for LGBT Youth

New research shows that rates of depression, suicide, and illegal drug use are many times higher among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth than among their peers. Seven AIR human and social development experts share their insights in a new book, Improving Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes for LGBT Youth: A Guide for Professionals.
12 Aug 2011
Brief

What Are Some Strategies to Sustain School Mental Health Programs?

In response to diminished state and local funding, communities are faced with increased challenges in sustaining school mental health programs. This brief shares strategies that have evolved and been used to successfully sustain school mental health programs.
12 Aug 2011
Brief

How Do System of Care Leaders Develop a Sustainable School Mental Health Program?

To build sustainable school mental health programs, child and youth service systems need to collaborate with local schools and mental health agencies to build a continuum of services. This brief provides insight into how these systems can navigate local and state systems to gain financial support to build, maintain, and sustain successful school mental health programs.
11 Aug 2011
Brief

What Are the Challenges to School and Mental Health Agency Partnerships?

Schools and mental health agencies can join resources to meet the mental health needs of children and youth, but this may present some challenges. This brief examines typical differences among schools and agencies—such as terminology, confidentiality rules, professional culture, diagnostic process, and eligibility—in an effort to promote shared vision and mission.
11 Aug 2011
Brief

Why School Mental Health? What Is the Connection to Systems of Care?

School mental health programs can address mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders so that students are physically and emotionally ready to learn and students and their families are able to cope with the stress of daily living. This brief discusses how to support school mental health programs through system of care principles and initiatives.
15 Apr 2011
Report

Key Strategies for Violence and Substance Abuse Prevention I: Working with Children and Families

Three National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention publications highlight key prevention strategies: one for children and their families, another that targets the role of classroom and school environments, and a third that explores ways in which community-based strategies can contribute to the prevention of school violence and substance abuse.
5 Apr 2011
Report

Addressing Mental Health Services Disparities for Ethnically Diverse Children

This study addresses a significant shortcoming in the delivery of behavioral health services to children, namely, the large socio-economic and ethnic disparities between children who utilize services and those children who do not utilize services.

Project

Wraparound Zone Initiative Evaluation

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Wraparound Zones (WAZ) Initiative is designed to create coordinated district systems that allow schools to proactively and systematically address the nonacademic needs of students. AIR conducted an evaluation of how well the WAZ Initiative achieved these goals, which found improvements in student behavior, family engagement, and the student referral process, and that students in WAZ schools performed better on the English language arts and mathematics assessment as compared with students in comparison schools.
Project

Evidence-based Practices for Disruptive Behaviors

This contract is part of the development of the Guide for Selecting and Adopting Evidence-Based Practices for Children and Adolescents with Disruptive Behavior Disorders, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Mental Health.

11 Mar 2009
Report

Evaluation of the Minnesota Supportive Housing and Managed Care Pilot

The Minnesota Supportive Housing and Managed Care Pilot evaluation suggests that it is possible to end homelessness for the most marginalized single adults and families in America with housing and intensive supports. Although this population has experienced long spells of homelessness exacerbated by physical health problems, mental illness, chemical dependency and traumatic stress, this evaluation found that stable housing, recovery and reintegration into community life are possible. The intervention of supportive housing—housing and services focused on the unique needs of people exiting homelessness—broke the cycle of homelessness.
21 Apr 2000
Guide

Safeguarding Our Children: An Action Guide

The purpose of this Action Guide is to help schools develop and implement a comprehensive violence prevention plan grounded in the principles of the Early Warning Guide. This Action Guide is based on evidence-based practices. Effective action plans are strategic, coordinated, and comprehensive. They involve schoolwide prevention, early intervention, and intensive services for students with significant emotional or behavioral needs, including those with disruptive, destructive, or violent behaviors.