APA: U.S. adults support mental health initiatives in schools, gun violence a top concern

A majority of adults in the United States agreed on the importance of schools playing a key role in advocating for mental health, according to results of a recent survey from the American Psychiatric Association.

Among the 2,210 adults who participated in the APA’s Healthy Minds Monthly Poll from July 21 to July 22, 86% of respondents stated schools can accomplish this goal through educating students, 87% said staff training was crucial for success, and 84% believed in connecting students to mental health support.

“The overwhelming support for mental health programming in schools is so important for our next generation, as we face an unprecedented mental health crisis for adolescents and youth,” APA President Rebecca Brendel, MD, JD, said in a release. “We must continue to support evidence-based practices that help children when they need it most."

When asked to rank their level of concern on seven issues negatively affecting students in kindergarten through 12th grade, adults ranked gun violence (55%), mental health (50%) and cyberbullying and social media (48%) their three chief concerns.

COVID-19 ranked seventh, with 27% of polled parents marking it as concerning, although roughly half of parents surveyed indicated lingering worries about the pandemic’s effect on their child’s mental health and social skills.

Other data from the poll revealed that 68% of adult respondents believed their local K-12 schools have a guidance counselor or school nurse (63%) available for students, but only 48% thought school resource officers were available, with only 31% answering for social workers; 23% mentioned psychologists, and 13% expressed belief that psychiatrists were ready to provide assistance.

“Many global issues are weighing on Americans’ minds as we move into the end of summer,” APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, MD, MPA, said in the release. “While the news can be stressful, taking action on an issue can help us to feel empowered, and for many, ensuring we aren’t exposing ourselves to constant negative news can help.”