2021 Policy Institute: Addressing Youth Mental Health Needs in Schools

Mental Health America's 2021 National Policy Institute with Kaiser Permanente:

Addressing Youth Mental Health Needs in Schools

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

12:00 pm ET - 3:00 pm ET

COVID-19’s impact on the nation’s mental health is apparent and will be apparent for years to come. Yet, even more concerning is the impact on children and adolescents. MHA’s 2020 screening data indicates the population most impacted by the covid-19 crisis were youth ages 11-17 years old. This age group scored positively for anxiety and depression more often and more severely than other age groups. Suicide and self-harm also increased significantly in 2020 in youth ages 11-17 years with more than 35 percent of youth reporting having thoughts of suicide more than half the days of the month. Feelings of isolation and loneliness crept up as the leading factor contributing to a person’s mental state at the time of the screening, followed by feelings related to a past trauma.

MHA has partnered with Kaiser Permanente to host discussions with the nation’s leading education and health experts to highlight key principles to inform policies and practices of reopening schools that will help youth early and through equitable means. By meeting children and adolescents where they spend most of their time, in school, MHA and its affiliates are helping to prevent mental health crises before stage four.

A virtual meeting, Addressing Youth Mental Health Needs In Schools, will air on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. ET – 3:00 p.m. ET. Policy Institute is a 3-hour half-day event preceding MHA's Annual Conference.

Agenda for Policy Institute on June 8, 2021
TIME	SESSION	RESOURCES
12:00 p.m. ET	Introduction Caren Howard, Mental Health America	MHA's B4Stage4 Philosophy
12:05 p.m. ET	Welcome Message Kickoff Don Mordecai, M.D., Kaiser Permanente	Findyourwords.org Support Center and Youth Trainings
12:10 p.m. ET	Lessons from MHA's 2020 Screening Data Paul Gionfriddo, Mental Health America	MHA's 2020 COVID-19 Screening Data
12:15 p.m. ET	Panel 1: Reopening Schools Elizabeth Cook, Healthier Generation Sharon Hoover, National Center for School Mental Health Joyce Dorado, University of California San Francisco	Alliance for a Healthier Generation National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH) UCSF Hearts: Healthy Environments and Response to Trauma in Schools
12:40 p.m. ET	Principles from MHA's Education Policy Report: A Guide for Districts and Policymakers Sydney Daniello, Mental Health America	Principles from MHA’s School-Based Mental Health Policy Report: A Guide for Districts and Policymakers
12:45 p.m. ET	Youth Advocacy: Call To Action Angela Wallace, National Student Advocate	The Boston Globe: Lawmakers hear call to update public school curriculum
12:50 p.m. ET	Reducing Disparities Through School-Based Mental Health Bernadeia Johnson, Minnesota State University	Mental Healthcare Access for Children through Schools
1:00 p.m. ET	Break
1:05 p.m. ET	Panel 2: Data and Innovative Solutions Terri White, MHA of Oklahoma Jill Bohnenkamp, National Center for School Mental Health Ben Ballman, DMV Students for Mental Health Reform	Mental Health Association Oklahoma The SHAPE System
1:30 p.m. ET	Presentation of the Youth Advocacy Award to Ben Ballman
1:35 p.m. ET	Fireside Chat: Transforming Institutions Chelsea Prax, American Federation of Teachers Moderated by: Laura Bay, Former President of the Parent Teachers Association and MHA Board Member
2:00 p.m. ET	Mindfulness Exercise Break Laura Bakosh, Inner Explorer	Mindfulness-Based Interventions Improve Mental Health Mindfulness in Schools
2:10 p.m. ET	Panel 3: Financing Mei Wa Kwong, Center for Connected Health Policy Alexandra Mays, Healthy Schools Campaign Phyllis Jordan, FutureEd	The Center for Connected Health Policy Medicaid Free Care Rule by State U.S. Department of Education Guidance
2:45 p.m. ET	Youth Advocacy: Empowered Melanie Zhou, Oasis Mental Health	Oasis Mental Health
2:50 p.m. ET	Conclusion Annie Reed, Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools	Building Healthier Schools for Youth and Staff

About Mental Health America

Mental Health America (MHA) - founded in 1909 - is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans. Our work is driven by our commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; integrated care, services, and supports for those who need it; with recovery as the goal.

Questions about the Policy Institute?
Contact MHA's Executive Vice President of Policy, Mary Giliberti, at mgiliberti@mhanational.org or MHA's Director of Policy and Advocacy, Caren Howard, at choward@mhanational.org.