Universal Mental Health Screening Practices in Midwestern Schools: A Window of Opportunity for School Psychologist Leadership and Role Expansion?

The conducting of universal mental health screening is one widely endorsed practice suitable for use within P-12 school settings to more proactively identify children and young people experiencing or displaying characteristics of a mental health disorder. Absent routine screening, many school-age youth with mental health concerns, especially those of an internalizing nature, may go unidentified and left without timely treatment, support, and services. The current study, which employed survey methodology with principal respondents from four Midwestern states, primarily sought to contribute to and update the literature on the universal mental health screening practice habits of P-12 schools. Most principal respondents reported that their school does not currently conduct universal mental health screening and cited barriers (e.g., money, time, lack of support system in place) to screening commonly documented in prior studies. Many principals reported at least a moderate degree of interest in their school beginning to conduct universal screening in their buildings; however, a similar majority reported little to no knowledge about this important practice. Fortunately, principal respondents were generally interested in and receptive to support from their school psychologist in exploring and eventually implementing the conducting of universal mental health screening in their building. Implications for practice and future research, along with the potential for school psychologist leadership and role expansion, are discussed.