By Robert Jordan, Founder of SITE|SAFETYNET℠
Mental Health Training: A Critical Gap in Our Schools. A recent national poll reveals a significant disconnect in school safety: while a vast majority of Americans recognize the importance of school staff in identifying student mental health issues, less than half believe staff are trained to do so.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), 84% of Americans agree that school personnel play a vital role in spotting early signs of mental health struggles among students. Yet only 45% believe that most school staff have received proper training to identify those concerns.
This is a critical gap — and one that SITE|SAFETYNET℠ believes must be addressed if we are serious about protecting our students.
The Public Speaks: Mental Health Education Is a Must
Support for mental health education in schools is nearly universal:
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89% of Americans say students should be taught about mental health in school.
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89% believe school staff should undergo formal mental health training.
These figures are based on a national poll conducted in July 2024 by Morning Consult for the APA, which surveyed over 2,200 adults nationwide.
This is not just theory or opinion — this is public demand for action.
The Reality Inside Our Schools
The U.S. Department of Education’s March 2024 School Pulse Panel reports that 63% of public schools have provided teachers with professional development focused on student well-being. However, it is unclear how many non-teaching staff members — including aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and school safety officers — have received any training at all.
Among parents, concerns are rising:
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29% of parents are not confident that their child’s school staff can handle mental health issues.
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Still, 82% believe school staff would talk to them if a concern arose.
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73% believe staff would refer their child to a mental health professional when needed.
A Free, Practical Solution: Notice. Talk. Act.®
The APA Foundation has stepped in with a free, schoolwide training initiative called Notice. Talk. Act.® at School, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This program helps educators and school staff recognize warning signs, initiate conversations, and guide students to the proper support. It’s available now — and more schools should be using it. More info here.
The Stakes Are Clear
When asked what they believe are the most significant issues facing students today, Americans named:
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Bullying and cyberbullying (42%)
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Mental health (32%)
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Social media (30%)
Nearly half of parents (45%) say they should be talking to their children about mental health more often, and 77% say they’d be comfortable getting professional help for their child if warning signs appeared.
At SITE|SAFETYNET℠, we view mental health not as a separate issue from physical safety — but as an essential pillar of any comprehensive school safety strategy. From assessments to ongoing monitoring and actionable reports, mental health readiness must be measured, trained for, and continuously improved.
Let’s stop assuming staff are prepared and start ensuring they are. The tools exist. The public is supportive. It’s time for schools to act.
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