In 2023, a significant number of Indiana’s youth faced severe mental health challenges. Nearly half of high school students reported experiencing depression, and a quarter of them had gone as far as developing a plan for suicide. This highlights the urgent need for mental health support and intervention among young people in the state.
Issues with access to care are widespread. In 2024, more than 65% of Indiana adolescents with depression were unable to access care. All of Indiana’s 92 counties contain a federally designated mental health workforce shortage. Without sufficient capacity to address concerning mental health issues, children and youth run the risk of falling through the cracks. Schools are uniquely positioned to support overall student well-being because they serve as a consistent point of access within their communities. Indiana law requires schools provide several services intended to support the mental, emotional, and behavioral health and wellness of students including student assistance services.
These services are required to be provided by professionals licensed by the Indiana Department of Education (DOE), including school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists. While schools are authorized in statute to support students’ emotional and behavioral health, anecdotal reports indicate difficulties with school-based behavioral health workforce capacity.
Currently, state level data is limited and does not include information related to services. More information is needed to support and elevate these integral workers. Recognizing this gap in necessary information, the DOE, with support from Indiana Department of Health, administered a pulse check survey to school counselors, social workers, and psychologists. Findings from this pulse check are included here, as well as recommendations for next steps.
Download the full PDF of the report here or check out the interactive version below (PDF also follows the interactive version below).
See the full report with our findings in the PDF below: