As part of the 2024 Policy Academy to Drive Thriving Youth Mental Health, the National Governors Association supported the development of a Youth Advisory Council, where the six state teams selected youth advisors to work alongside state staff to drive change. This commentary features the research and writing of Ekansha Tabhane, one of the youth advisors from New Jersey. More information about the outcomes of the Policy Academy can be found in our flagship report which will be available here, and state leaders interested in youth engagement can find tons of information in our new report: Of the Youth, For the Youth, By the Youth: A Governor’s Guide for Incorporating Youth Voice into Policymaking.
Recent national statistics reveal alarming trends: Federal data from the 2023 Youth Behavior Risk Survey demonstrated that 4 out of 10 youth are struggling with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, which is a slight improvement from prior years but still a disconcerting proportion. According to research from March 2025, anxiety disorders are the most common and affect nearly 32% of teens, with rates higher in girls, while 20% of teens testify to experiencing depression before their 17th birthday. Suicide statistics are alarming, with more than 15% of youth having made a suicide plan, and almost 9% of youth having made a suicide attempt. Factors like social media, academic pressure, and environmental stressors can contribute to declining mental health.
As Governors look to improve these trends, many are exploring policy tools, like mental health screenings in schools, to be proactive in helping support youth and students. These screenings entail mental health assessments conducted in schools to identify students at risk for cognitive disorders and risky behaviors. Research shows that school-based interventions can be effective at reducing student anxiety and depression, and these screenings can help detect issues early, allowing for timely intervention. Just like physical health screenings for physical fitness, hearing, or vision, school-based mental health screenings can help families get connected to services earlier, before conditions worsen.
A shared goal across state school-based screening programs is early intervention – identifying concerns before they become severe – but states vary in their implementation and design of such programs to address various interests and factors. Opponents of screenings have expressed concerns that they can lead to over-diagnosis and contribute to stigmatization, while others concerned about maintaining parental rights debate the balance between active parental consent and opt-out strategies for screening policies. Additionally, schools may lack the necessary resources to provide adequate support for students identified, leaving students no better off.
About The Author: Ekansha Tabhane
I’m currently a high school senior, and I served as one of the New Jersey Youth Advisors with the National Governors Association Policy Academy, where I supported the team in their work to strengthen youth mental health. Governor Murphy has been a leader on this issue, and I’m deeply passionate about improving mental health outcomes for young people and elevating the importance of research-driven solutions.
As a student, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges my peers face, which has fueled my interest in school-based youth mental health screenings and inspired me to explore policy solutions with the NGA Policy Academy project.
Across states, many are actively working to design effective solutions that address these factors while prioritizing student well-being: many programs require parental consent and allow schools to opt in to the program. States have also partnered with external organizations or mental health professionals to conduct assessments, embedding expertise in the process. Some stand-out aspects of screening programs include New Jersey’s proactive parental engagement strategies, Iowa’s funding for community-based mental health services, and Utah’s grant program to cover screening costs.
State Examples of School-Based Screenings
Iowa
Iowa’s mental health screening program, established in 2020, allows schools to provide in-person behavioral health screenings by contracting with external mental health professionals and accredited behavioral health organizations. The opt-in program expands access to mental health professionals through strategic partnerships with external behavioral health organizations. With $8.6 million in funding from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER), the program prioritizes parental involvement by requiring consent for screenings and disclosure of results. This approach ensures parents remain engaged in their children’s mental health care and represents a piece of the state’s student continuum of care that includes the Therapeutic Classroom grant and the required Suicide Prevent and Postvention Training.
New Jersey
New Jersey’s mental health screening program launched in 2021 with a $750,000 investment to allow schools participating in the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant to apply for up to $82,000 in additional funding to roll out screening. The program specifically targets students in grades 7-12 and provides annual health screenings for depression. These screenings must be conducted by licensed mental health professionals who can provide appropriate treatment. New Jersey’s program emphasizes parental rights and involvement—the program requires written informed consent from a student’s parent or guardian before any screening. This helps ensure parents are fully aware of and comfortable with the mental health services their children receive, which could potentially contribute to increased family engagement in follow-up care if needed.
Utah
In 2020, former Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed H.B. 323, which established a school-based mental health screening program. As of the 2024 school year, local education agencies (LEAs) can opt in or out of the program, which also entails obtaining individual written parental consent for screenings but must alert the State Education Agency of their participation by August 1 each year. The state has allocated $1,000,000 for the program, affording LEAs opting in to the program the opportunity to apply for a grant to cover the costs of implementing the screening and the cost of relevant mental health services needed for qualifying students as a result of the screening. In FY24, more than 10,000 students were screened with 28% being connected to resources or services.
School-based mental health screenings offer a proactive solution for connecting students with critical support, and Governors can have significant creative control over the design. While states have taken varied approaches, Governors and states are adopting solutions that address the interests of the families, parents, and youth of their states focusing on the need for parental involvement, collaboration with mental health professionals, and bolstering connections for follow-up care. As more states explore these initiatives, prioritizing early intervention and comprehensive support could be essential in improving youth mental health outcomes.
State leaders interested in learning more about school-based mental health screenings and other youth mental health issues can reach out to Children and Families Program Director Jordan Hynes (jhynes@nga.org) and Senior Policy Analyst Jess Kirchner (jkirchner@nga.org).
