Teacher and counselor perceptions of high- and middle-school studentc communication and mental health: a qualitative study

Background Youth mental health (MH) crisis, perpetuated by limited access to appropriate care, leaves one in five adolescents with mental disorders receiving actual treatment. School staff can play a critical role in identifying and supporting at-risk students by being equipped with practical knowledge of adolescent mental health. This study explores the understanding and perceptions of student mental health by middle- and high-school staff. Methods Four focus groups of 5–8 participants ( N = 27) were conducted among middle- and/or high-school staff at a Northeast Ohio public school district. Prompts addressed student mental health and barriers to solutions. Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and thematically coded. Results Four main themes emerged (1) educators' knowledge about adolescent MH, (2) role of technology and social media, (3) barriers to identifying MH conditions and to accessing MH services, and (4) communication challenges. Conclusions Middle- and high-school educators identified an unmet need for support around student mental health. These findings support workshop development that is easily adaptable to the needs of various schools to help address rising untreated adolescent MH concerns and to equip staff with knowledge to support student mental health. Workshops will then be piloted across multiple public middle and high schools to evaluate the ability to improve educator comfort with student mental health.