RFK Jr. Wants to End Mental Health Screenings in Schools. Experts Say It's a Bad Idea | KQED

"U.S. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and Education Secretary Linda McMahon want schools to do away with mental health screenings and therapy. Instead, they argue in a Washington Post opinion piece that schools "must return to the natural sources of mental well-being: strong families, nutrition and fitness, and hope for the future." NPR spoke to mental health experts who say the op-ed is misleading about school-based mental health screenings and therapy."

"As research has shown, stigma prevents people with mental health conditions from seeking help. Also, these school-based screenings are meant to be universal, says Alvord, and they normalize conversations around mental health, raise awareness and encourage help seeking. "We often do diagnose other medical conditions, including diabetes or other things that may be present," says Feuer. "Somebody looking like they're distracted in the classroom, falling asleep, not being engaged, can look like they're depressed." But further examination by a physician might reveal, for example, that the child had diabetes causing those symptoms, she says. However, even in cases when a child is diagnosed with a mental health condition, it might take a long time for that child to connect to a therapist, adds Feuer. "The biggest barrier continues to be even when things are diagnosed, the actual access to care is still very, very difficult in most places in this country.""

Some officials propose eliminating school-based mental health screenings and therapy and instead emphasize strong families, nutrition, fitness, and hope for the future. School-based mental health screenings reduce stigma, normalize conversations, raise awareness, and encourage help-seeking. These screenings are designed to be universal. Screening can uncover nonpsychiatric medical conditions, such as diabetes, that produce symptoms similar to depression or inattention. Diagnosis does not guarantee timely treatment because actual access to therapists and care remains very difficult in many parts of the country.

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