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National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH)
National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH)

National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH)

Welcome to the National Center for School Mental Health

NCSMH LogoThe mission of the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH) is to strengthen policies and programs in school mental health to improve learning and promote success for America's youth.

From its inception in 1995, the Center's leadership and interdisciplinary staff has promoted the importance of providing mental health services to children, adolescents, and families directly in schools and communities.

2025 Advancing School Mental Health Conference

Building Resilient Futures: Advancing School Mental Health for Success in School, Life, and Work

A skyline of Orlando, Florida at sunset. There is a row of buildings with a purple and orange sunset above. The sunset reflects onto a lake, which is front of the buildings in the foreground.

Announcements

Maryland School Mental Health Transition Resources
The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health and the NCSMH piloted mental health transition resources.

Working Well Brief: Organizational Initiatives and Policies to Support Educator Well-Being
The NCSMH collaborated with the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) on an educator well-being brief.

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Get into SHAPE!
Register with the SHAPE system to improve the quality of your school mental health system & learn about SHAPE's built-in school mental health assessments! Register | The SHAPE System | SHAPE's Mental Health Assessments 

Key Resources

Advancing Measurement-Based Care in School Mental Health
Authored by Drs. Elizabeth Connors and Sharon Hoover, is part of a 10-paper series published by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD).

Parents to Parents: After Your Child's Suicide Attempt
A video resource for parents that was just released by the Zero Suicide Institute and Parents to Parents.

Mental Health and Schools: Best Practices to Support Our Students - Implications for Policy, Systems, and Practices
From the Baker Center for Children and Families Evidence-Based Policy Institute.

Resources to support caregivers and educators in helping youth in the aftermath of a wildfire
Shared by The National Association of School Psychologists

The updated 2024 School Mental Health Quality Guides are available!