NASBHC's mission is to
improve the health status
of children and youth
by advancing and advocating
for school-based health care
1100 G Street, NW, Suite 735
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 638-5872
Fax: (202)638-5879
Email: info@nasbhc.org
CFC#: 64337
Mental Health in School-Based Health Centers
School-based health centers offer a variety of on-site mental health and counseling services through several modalities, including individual, one-on-one counseling, student group counseling, family therapy, consultation and case management. The SBHC setting provides many benefits for offering school mental health services including access, efficiency, and effectiveness. Mental health services provided by SBHCs include:
- Screening
- Assessment
- Case Management
- Crisis Intervention
- Individual, Group and Family Therapy
- Tobacco Use Counseling
- Substance Use Counseling
- Referrals
- Classroom interventions
- Skill-Building
- Conflict Resolution/Mediation
- Psycho-education
- Medication Management/Administration
- Consultation
NASBHC recommends that SBHCs use a comprehensive, interdisciplinary and integrated approach to providing mental health services in order to address the full range of students’ social, emotional and mental health needs. Ideally SBHCs offer a fully integrated set of primary and secondary prevention, early intervention, and treatment for youth and families. By using an interdisciplinary team developed through a partnership between the health and mental health providers, school staff, and community agencies, the SBHC can offer a full spectrum of mental health services as well as have optimal collaboration, oversight, supervision, and backup for both physical and mental health providers.
When providing mental health services, NASBHC recommends following NASBHC’s Principles and Goals for SBHCs and the Center for School Mental Health’s Principles for Expanded School Mental Health.
More information:
- Read more about the benefits of providing mental health services in SBHCs.