The State of K-12 Mental Health and Wellness in the United States: Insights from Experts and Advocates

The state of K-12 mental health and wellness in the United States has been a cause for concern even before the pandemic. According to a report by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the pandemic has only accelerated the youth mental health crisis. The need for greater access to mental health care for students of all ages is immense. 

There is clear evidence that mental health needs have increased both before and further exacerbated by the pandemic. We are especially concerned about K-12 students, where mental health stressors can have a lasting impact on academic performance and well-being. We heard these concerns first-hand through scores of interviews with high school and college counselors, students, advocates, and industry experts. The issues they raise are deeply concerning, citing students are: 

• Markedly less prepared for the rigors of career and college, 
• Entering higher education with lower proficiency in basic academic skills, 
• Demonstrating less effective study habits and lower confidence, and are 
• Less independent and more socially isolated – with students being described as less willing to engage with both peers and mentors either in-person or virtually. 
 
The U.S. K-12 Mental Health and Wellness Market is projected to be $5.7 billion in 2023 within 9 key market segments. The largest segment (Counseling & Therapy) accounts for nearly half of the entire market, with an opportunity for additional growth at current penetration rates of 50%. Three market segments (MTSS Behavior Management & Software, Mental Health Universal Screening, and MTSS Assessment & Design) have less than 30% penetration. 

Private equity investment activity in Mental Health and Wellness has increased by 159% from $481M to $1,245M from 2019 to 2020. The increase in investment activity is driven by an increase in demand and awareness of mental health needs, recent influxes of government funding, and policy changes to state mental health requirements and insurance. 

In 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was signed into law. It invests $1B over the next five years to expand mental health support in K-12 schools in response to trends in youth mental health. Funding is allocated to two programs designed to increase access to qualified mental health professionals and to provide training for school personnel to identify and respond to mental health issues. 

While change is happening, the need for mental health care in K-12 schools is still massive. services. The Pew Research Center reports that 70% of public schools say more students are seeking mental health services, but 87% of those schools said they can’t provide such services to all of the students in need4. The National Association of School Psychologists recommends a ratio of 1 school psychologist per 500 students; current data estimate a ratio of 1 per 1,211 students1. 

More needs to be done to address the mental health crisis in K-12 schools. The increase in investment activity and government funding is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to ensure that all students have access to the mental health care they need.