Welcome to the latest installment of the Stepping Stones for Mental Wellness podcast, titled “Future of School‑Based Mental Health,” where host Tiffanie leads an inspiring conversation with two expert guests:
- Melissa Royalty, Market President, Mental Health Division, and
- Carly Swisher, Regional Clinical Director.
These two leaders bring decades of experience in building emotionally intelligent, inclusive school environments and are poised to share their vision for what’s next in mental health support for students.
What to Expect in This Episode
Together, Melissa and Carly explore the future of mental health services in schools. They dive into:
- Breaking down stigma around asking for help, positioning support-seeking as a sign of self-awareness rather than weakness.
- Integrating basic needs with higher learning, echoing the idea that academic success (Bloom’s taxonomy) builds on foundational social-emotional wellness (Maslow’s hierarchy).
- Embedding emotional intelligence skills across age groups—from elementary morning meetings to middle and high school advisory classes.
Trends Shaping the Future of School-Based Support
Carly highlights key systemic movements, including:
- More schools offer mental and behavioral health services directly on campus—meeting kids where they already are.
- Yet barriers remain—from guardian consent policies to misinformation spreading via social media.
- That’s why schools must proactively educate students on how to access these services. Awareness builds familiarity, eases anxiety, and paves the way for smoother school-home transitions.
Crisis Readiness: Are Schools Prepared?
Melissa reflects on the ongoing challenges:
- Rising rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide are overwhelming many schools.
- Teacher shortages mean many educators lack training in crisis de-escalation and mental health.
- Reduced funding—especially the fading support from ESSER grants—has strained school resources, limiting proactive responses.
- That's where Stepping Stones shines, by helping districts access alternative funding (like Medicaid and commercial plans) to sustainably support mental wellness.
The Role of Digital Innovation, Teletherapy, and AI
On technology’s transformative role:
- Teletherapy has become a mainstay—helping students access continuity of care, no matter the circumstances.
- Digital tools (like CBT or DBT worksheets) support both therapists and students with structured interventions.
- AI tools are emerging—but bring challenges: ethical regulation, licensure compliance, and safeguarding when students express self-harm ideation.
- A pivotal note: Illinois has already mandated that therapy must be delivered by licensed clinicians—not chatbots—a cautionary move validated amid rapid technological change.
Designing Classrooms for Mental Wellness
Creating emotionally supportive physical spaces:
- Thoughtful classroom layout (lighting, colors, uncluttered spaces) reduces stress and supports learning.
- Calming corners and reset rooms offer students safe ways to regulate emotions—without suspension or exclusion.
- Explaining safety systems (like lockdown protocols) to students builds trust and reduces anxiety.
Cultural Responsiveness, Workforce Well-Being, and Student Voice
- A culturally responsive environment means students feel seen, valued, and heard—whether through welcome touches like greeting rituals or embedding student voice into decisions.
- Building a diverse mental health workforce requires alignment with education licensing, clear referral processes, team integration (not isolation), and creating roles that feel meaningful and sustainable.
A Day in the Life—10 Years Ahead
What might a future school look like?
- Teachers greeting each student by name—replacing transactional greetings with human momentum.
- AI-enabled wellness check-ins, flagging at-risk students for discreet support.
- Mindful mornings with gratitude or connection rituals to strengthen emotional readiness.
- Stress reset zones and mental health interventionists on site to guide students back to calm and focus.
- A counselor ratio of 1:200, therapist availability, and repeated opportunities for play in learning throughout the day.
In Summary
This episode is a forward-thinking roadmap to deeply embed mental wellness in schools—through thoughtful design, proactive investment, digital innovation, and human-first environments. The future is collaborative, equitable, and driven by care.
By Tiffanie Ives Coleman
Director of Client Services, Stepping Stones Mental Health Division
