New Survey Finds Schools Struggling to Build Effective Systems to Address Students’ Mental Health Amid Growing Demand

NEW YORK, N.Y. (March 18, 2025)—While nearly all educators agree mental health and behavioral challenges negatively impact students’ ability to learn, many schools face ongoing challenges in building effective systems to support student wellness, according to findings from a new survey released today. Many educators feel their systems lack alignment, and more concerning, feel their schools don’t have the necessary resources to make these support systems work  effectively.

The survey was conducted on behalf of Presence, a premier solution for PreK–12 remote special education-related and mental health evaluation and teletherapy services, and Move This World, a proactive and preventative mental health platform for PreK-12 students, staff and families. The two organizations have partnered to help schools and districts strengthen their Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)—a widely-used framework that provides increasingly intensive levels of support to meet each students’ needs. Together, they offer a comprehensive approach that addresses all tiers of student needs, from universal, proactive strategies to intensive, individualized interventions.

“America is facing a youth mental health crisis. When students are impacted by trauma or facing challenges related to depression, anxiety, and emotional regulation, they are not able to bring their full focus to their education,” said Presence CEO Kate Eberle Walker. “To give students the support they need, schools coordinate multiple intervention programs and service providers that aren’t always talking to one another to achieve a common goal. We want to connect the dots to offer schools a mental health approach that will address the full continuum of care—from universal classroom-based resources to individualized interventions for high-need students. This is what our schools need to proactively prevent crises and to help students achieve their educational goals.”

The survey polled educators, including administrators, teachers, school psychologists, and counselors, from public, charter, private and parochial schools across the nation. Among the key findings: 

• Educators agree mental health and emotional wellness are key to student success.
  The data show 98% of educators agree mental health and emotional wellness are essential for student success, and 94% of educators believe alignment across support tiers results in more positive outcomes.
• Educators recognize their school programs need to improve but don’t feel they have the resources to do so. Over 60% of educators feel their school’s programs for mental health and behavioral wellness are either lacking alignment or have significant room for improvement, the survey finds. What’s more, less than 40% feel their schools have the necessary resources to align these supports effectively.
• In most schools, academic support outweighs wellness support. Only 8% of educators strongly agree their MTSS for mental and behavioral wellness is as robust as their academic supports. This disconnect limits the ability to address students’ holistic needs and, ultimately, to help them thrive.
• Schools that prioritize student well-being see positive outcomes. When alignment and resources are in place, the results speak for themselves. Among educators who report having well-aligned and resourced MTSS programs, 81% say their schools or districts have seen positive outcomes. These success stories demonstrate the power of integration and the importance of a coordinated approach across all tiers. 

See all survey findings.

“The survey results emphasize what we already know: Students who are supported academically and emotionally are more likely to succeed, and teachers need resources to help them proactively address the changing landscape in which they work,” said Sara Potler LaHayne, Founder and CEO of Move This World. “By streamlining multi-tiered systems of support, we can empower educators, improve outcomes, and create environments where students can learn and grow.”

“For too long, schools have been reactive, not proactive, when it comes to mental and behavioral health,” said Joelisse Galarza, LCSW-S, Director of Mental Health and Social Emotional Learning for IDEA Public Schools, which serves about 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Ohio. “During this critical time, when more students than ever before need our help, our charter network is proud of its shifts in its approach to ensure there are intentional, connected mental health programs and resources in place for students, families, and educators alike.”

Watch a recording of the recent webinar, “Building Effective Mental Health & Behavioral Wellness in Schools: Strategies for Alignment, Prevention, and Student Success.”

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About Presence

Inspired to drive solutions for the national shortage of school clinicians, Presence is unlocking the potential of schools and clinicians by removing traditional barriers to success through an elevated approach to teletherapy. As a trusted leader since 2009, Presence is innovating how schools assess and address student special education-related and mental health needs. By equipping a nationwide network of teletherapy providers with award-winning technology and end-to-end clinical support, Presence is helping to meet the needs of schools, students, and clinicians today—wherever they are. Presence is teletherapy, elevated.

About Move This World

Move This World is a proactive and preventative mental health platform for students, staff, and families in PreK-12. With an easy-to-implement and MTSS aligned program that delivers thousands of engaging and participatory multimedia experiences, schools can create a common language, support social emotional development, and build stronger communities where learning thrives. Move This World’s evidence-based results have impacted the lives of over 4 million students across 45 states and 9 countries. Learn more at www.movethisworld.com.