One’s overall social and emotional development and ability to cope with life’s stressors, both positive and negative. SEL supports school mental health and wellness of students and staff. SEL is asset based, preventative, and proactive in ensuring mental wellness in all students.

*Definition from Integrated Academic & Behavior Support, NC Department of Public Instruction

School-based mental health supports can provide more consistent services by removing barriers, such as cost and transportation. These supports can also improve communication among stakeholders/providers and consistency in services for students and families. With the abundance of research that clearly links mental health status with how students think, interact, behave and learn, we can no longer expect students to leave their mental health needs, from overall wellness to serious mental illness, at the door when they enter school buildings. 

As state departments of education, local education agencies, and schools across the nation begin to build school-based mental health supports, the majority are finding that a multi-tiered system of support is the most effective and efficient means of providing supports for all students’ mental health needs. School-wide supports with all staff members involved in delivery increases sustainability.  John E. Derochers explains the benefits of building school-wide supports within a multi-tiered system of support in his article, The Best Mental Health Programs Start with all Students.