Answering the Call for School-Based Mental Health

Abstract

A largely unmet need exists for school-based mental health services by students who are of an ethnic minority and who may not have insurance, access, and/or the knowledge of mental health services. These same students may not receive effective, culturally sensitive counseling services, interventions, or valid/accurate measures of psychological testing. In order to resonate and connect with these students who need the most help and support despite these barriers to accessing quality treatment, what is the school-based mental health provider to do? This chapter will initially discuss a comprehensive review of culturally competent interventions for school-based mental health providers as well as recommendations for culturally competent training for mental health providers and school staff to ensure that culturally competent collaboration and appropriate support exists for all students.