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Expanding Youth Mental Health in Philadelphia Schools

Views from the Field
Posted May 20, 2024
vff_may24_major
Morgan-Hynd

Heather Major Executive Director, Independence Blue Cross Foundation

Youth in the United States are in crisis. Rates of depression and anxiety in children have been on the rise, the result of factors like social media, pandemic related issues like isolation, and trauma from gun violence and poverty. Between 2016 and 2020, diagnoses of depression in youth ages 3-17 increased by nearly 30 percent and were higher for children of color and LGBTQ children according to a 2022 study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Access remains the most significant deterrent to children receiving treatment for behavioral health needs. A 2023 study found that less than 40 percent of children with mental health disorders receive treatment because of stigma and barriers such as cost, healthcare provider shortages, transportation, and long wait times (Wang et al, 2023). In Philadelphia, the nation’s largest poorest city, the rate of youth who aren’t receiving necessary mental health treatment is even higher at 78 percent. (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 2022).

Schools play an important role in promoting the behavioral and mental health and well-being of students through education, prevention, and early intervention efforts, according to the Centers for Disease Control (Centers for Disease Control, 2023).

That’s why the Philadelphia based Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Foundation and the nation’s leading children’s hospital, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) are collaborating to expand access to mental health services in Philadelphia schools, starting with Girard College.

Reaching Philadelphia students

“Meeting people where they are” is a tenant shared by education and public health — and in every community, county and state children are at school. As a result of IBX Foundation support to CHOP and Girard College, CHOP clinicians and Girard College faculty are addressing the unmet mental health needs of the several hundred students attending Girard College.

Located in Philadelphia, Girard College is an independent day boarding school for grades 1-12. Its student body is several hundred academically focused students of which more than 80 percent are African American. All Girard College students receive full tuition scholarships.

At the start of the Philadelphia school-based mental health initiative, 80 percent of Girard College students self-reported an adverse experience or trauma. Through the pilot, 100 percent of Girard College students were screened to help identify those at risk or in need of intervention.  

Now in its third year, the Philadelphia school-based mental health initiative is training teachers, administrators, and school counselors about screening and referral of students at Girard College who may be experiencing or at risk of anxiety, trauma, depression, substance use disorder, or mental health crisis. This approach creates a school-wide system of support to benefit all students and provides the appropriate level of intervention, when needed.

Reaching More Students

The Philadelphia school-based mental health initiative is moving beyond the pilot program at Girard College to include more schools. With continued commitment by the IBX Foundation, CHOP, and school administration, the program will reach more students where they are. More students will be able to access behavioral health resources and referral to care without barriers, leading to better socioemotional outcomes, academic performance, and improved student wellness.

For more than decade, the IBX Foundation has been dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of communities in the Greater Philadelphia region through initiatives like the Philadelphia school-based mental health initiative. There are many factors to consider when assessing a school-based approach to mental health services. Critical to the success of the pilot at Girard College is the communication between and involvement of the care team and school community – teachers and faculty, parents and caregivers, and students. Other features that are important to implementing and maintaining a program is the school commitment, culture, and capacity. A great starting place is the action guide from the CDC: Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders (cdc.gov)

To learn more about IBX Foundation including the Philadelphia school-based mental health initiative and other areas of impact, visit www.ibxfoundation.org.


References

2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; October 2022.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PolicyLab. Interprofessional Behavioral Health Training for Integrated Primary Care Practice [2022].

Wang, Sifan, Li, Qiongxian, Lu, Jin, et al. “Treatment Rates for Mental Disorders Among Children and Adolescents.” JAMA Network Open. October 18, 2023.

Centers for Disease Control, Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders [2023].

Focus Area(s): Population Health

Related Topic(s): Behavioral Health
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