Dear NCSMH Community,
Welcome to the October issue of The NCSMH Quarterly! We are deeply grateful for your partnership and its proof of what shared vision and collaboration can achieve for youth mental health in our schools and communities. This issue highlights research and practice, policy updates and training opportunities that reflect our collective commitment: Stronger Schools. Brighter Futures. Together.
As we enter another school year, school mental health continues to be at an important point of growth and change. Across the country, there is greater recognition that student mental health is closely connected to learning, attendance, relationships, and overall school success. Schools and communities have responded by expanding mental health programs, strengthening partnerships with community providers, investing in prevention and early intervention, and co-creating authentic and responsive supports and services in partnership with youth and families. We are seeing this incredible work translate into tangible improvements in our youth mental health data. For a full review, please check out the CDC DASH Youth Health in Focus (2015–2025 YRBS) report and resources linked in the newsletter.
Seeing this progress in mental health indicators gives us hope, while highlighting that more work remains. We must continue building comprehensive school mental health systems—specifically by offering supports for all students to build essential skills and empowering youth to lead and partner in these efforts.
In this issue, you will find free resources to support multi-stakeholder training, research showcasing successful state models, and state policy insights and tools.
What's Inside This Issue
- 2026 Advancing School Mental Health Conference: Join us in Nashville, TN (December 1-3) for an inspiring week of innovation and connection. Register today!
- Research: Read open-access research from NCSMH faculty on scaling statewide school-community mental health frameworks.
- Practice: Gain insights on building trust and authenticity in clinician-student relationships from the UMB School Mental Health Program.
- Policy & Trends: Explore the CDC’s DASH Youth Health in Focus (2015-2025 YRBS) report and Inseparable’s new Hopeful Futures Coalition state policy tracker.
- Training: Access free nationwide trainings with continuing education credits (CEs) available through MD Behavioral Health, including Mental Health Training Intervention for Health Providers in Schools (MH-TIPS) and Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in Schools.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to creating supportive, health-promoting school environments. See you in Nashville!
Jill Bohnenkamp & Britt Patterson
Co-Directors, National Center for School Mental Health