WASHINGTON 鈥 In parts of rural upstate New York, schools have more than 1,100 students for every mental health provider. In a far-flung region with little public transportation, those few school counselors often are the only mental health professionals available to students.
Hennessey Lustica overseen grant-funded efforts to train and hire more school psychologists, counselors and social workers in the Finger Lakes region, but those efforts may soon come to end 鈥 a casualty of the Trump administration's decision to聽聽around the United States.
鈥淐utting this funding is just going to devastate kids,鈥 said Lustica, project director of the Wellness Workforce Collaborative in the Seneca Falls Central School District. 鈥淭he workforce that we鈥檙e developing, just in my 21 school districts it鈥檚 over 20,000 kids that are going to be impacted by this and not have the mental health support that they need.鈥
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Hennessey Lustica poses for a portrait Thursday in Newark, N.Y.
The $1 billion in grants for school-based聽聽programs were part of a sweeping gun violence bill signed by President Joe Biden in 2022 in response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The grants were meant to help schools hire more psychologists, counselors and other mental health workers, especially in rural areas.
Under the Biden administration, the department prioritized applicants who showed how they would increase the number of providers from diverse backgrounds, or from communities directly served by the school district.聽聽administration took issue with aspects of the grant programs that聽, saying they were harmful to students.
鈥淲e owe it to American families to ensure that taxpayer dollars are supporting evidence-based practices that are truly focused on improving students鈥 mental health,鈥 Education Department spokesperson Madi Biedermann said.
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School districts around the US cut off training and retention programs
Lustica learned of her grant's cancellation in April in a two-page letter from the Education Department, which said the government found her work violated civil rights law. It did not specify how.
She plans to appeal the decision. She rejected the letter's characterization of her work, saying she and her colleagues abide by a code of ethics that honors each person鈥檚 individuality, regardless of race, gender or identity.
鈥淭he rhetoric is just false,鈥 Lustica said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how else to say it. I think if you looked at these programs and looked at the impact that these programs have in our rural school districts, and the stories that kids will tell you about the mental health professionals that are in their schools, it has helped them because of this program.鈥
The grants supported programs in districts across the country. In California, West Contra Costa Unified School District will lose nearly $4 million in funding. In Alabama, Birmingham City Schools was notified it would not receive the rest of a $15 million grant it was using to train, hire and retain mental health staff.
In Wisconsin, the state鈥檚 Department of Public Instruction will lose $8 million allocated for the next four years. The state used the money to boost retention and expand programs to encourage high schoolers to pursue careers in school-based mental health.
鈥淎t a time when communities are urgently asking for help serving mental health needs, this decision is indefensible,鈥 state superintendent Jill Underly said.
In recent House and Senate hearings, Democrats pressed Education Secretary Linda McMahon about the end of the grants and the impact on students. She told them mental health is a priority and the grants would be rebid and reissued.
鈥淎nyone who works or spends time with kids knows these grants were funding desperately needed access to mental health care services,鈥 American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten said. 鈥淐anceling the funding now is a cruel, reckless act that puts millions of children at risk.鈥
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Grant programs put more mental health specialists in schools
The strains on youth mental health are acute in many rural school districts.
In one upstate New York district, half the students have had to move due to economic hardship in the last five years, creating instability that can affect their mental health, Lustica said. In a survey of students from sixth through 12th grade in one county, nearly half reported feeling sad or depressed most of the time; one in three said their lives lacked clear purpose or meaning.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got huge amounts of depression, huge amounts of anxiety, lots of trauma and not enough providers,鈥 Lustica said. 鈥淪chool is the place where kids are getting a lot of the services they need.鈥
Some families in the region are unable to afford private counseling or are unable to get their children to appointments given transportation challenges, said Danielle Legg, a graduate student who did an internship as a school social worker with funding from the grant program.
鈥淭heir access to mental health care truly is limited to when they're in school and there's a provider there that can see them, and it's vital,鈥 Legg said.
In the past three years, 176 students completed their mental health training through the program Lustica oversees, and 85% of them were hired into shortage areas, she said.
The impact of stress on student mental health by the numbers
The impact of stress on student mental health by the numbers
Stress is a nearly universal experience among students, especially those in college. A World Health Organization (WHO)-supported of over 20,000 first-year students across nine countries found that 93.7% experienced stress in at least one major area, including finances, health, relationships, family, school, or loved ones' problems.聽
While it might just seem like a normal part of student life, stress in college students can actually have a serious impact. Data from the WHO study shows that higher stress levels were linked to increased odds of developing mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety. Similarly, found that common stressors鈥攁cademic, family, extracurricular/job, and financial鈥攄irectly lowered students' mental well-being, with academic and family pressures having particularly strong negative effects.
As such, can have lasting effects when left unaddressed, contributing to long-term emotional and psychological challenges. These studies, and others like them, point to the importance of addressing student stress early鈥攂efore it takes a toll on their health, academics, and relationships.聽
To further explore the link between and mental health, looked at the data鈥攊ncluding research on how different common stressors impact students' well-being and which mental health disorders are exacerbated by student stress. We also include some tips about how to manage stress effectively.
Academic stress is closely tied to mental well-being in college students鈥攅specially those who are nonbinary聽
It should come as no surprise that academic stress is a major factor influencing the mental well-being of college students. A of over 840 students found a "moderate" to "strong" relationship between academic stress and mental well-being (correlation coefficient = 0.53). The study's data reveal that as perceived academic stress, measured by the Perception of Academic Stress Scale (PAS), increased, mental well-being, assessed using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS), decreased.聽
The effects of academic stress weren't felt equally among all students. The study found that nonbinary students reported the highest academic stress (mean PAS score of 70.5) and the lowest mental well-being (mean SWEMWBS score of 17.2). In contrast, male students reported the lowest academic stress (mean PAS score of 63.9) and the highest mental well-being (mean SWEMWBS score of 21.4). Female students fell in between, with an average PAS score of 67.2 and an average SWEMWBS score of 18.9. These differences highlight that nonbinary students experienced significantly higher academic stress and poorer mental health compared to their male and female peers.
There is a feedback loop between academic stress and depression among college students
It's not just that academic stress worsens college students' mental health鈥攏egative mental health symptoms can also hinder academic performance. confirms that stress鈥攂oth academic and family-related鈥攊s a significant contributor to depression in students, which then negatively impacts their academic performance.聽
Family is a recurring source of stress that impacts student mental health
In addition to academics, research shows that family and family issues are a consistent source of stress for students. The above 2022 study found that while academic stress and family stress both contribute to depression, family stress has a stronger and more statistically significant impact on depression.聽
Also, data from the 2020 WHO initiative showed that more than half of respondents (56.7%) experienced mild stress in their family relationships. This stress was linked to four mental health conditions, with the strongest connection (43.9%) found with borderline personality disorder (BPD) compared to other stressors.
The negative mental health effects of stress can begin in high school for some students
Many experience chronic stress, which affects their academic success, mental health, and behavior鈥攁nd often continues into college. According to a conducted by NYU researchers, nearly half of surveyed (49%) reported feeling great stress daily. Rates of daily stress were higher among female students (60%) than male students (41%). Homework was a consistently mentioned source of stress among these students, with nearly half (48%) doing at least three hours of homework per night (with girls doing more than boys).聽
The study found that stress persisted into college years, potentially leading to disengagement and mental health issues. Students reported using coping strategies like sports, exercise, and planning but also mentioned emotional exhaustion and substance use as common responses to continued stress during the college years.聽
How to cope with stress as a student
Balancing school, extracurriculars, and social life can be overwhelming, but there are ways to manage stress and protect your mental health. Here are three practical strategies for :
Set boundaries
It's important to create a healthy balance between schoolwork and personal time. Try setting a schedule for studying, taking regular breaks, and avoiding last-minute cramming. Learning to say no to extra commitments can also help prevent burnout.
Prioritize self-care
Taking care of yourself is just as important as keeping up with assignments. Get enough sleep, eat nourishing meals, and find time for , whether it's exercising, listening to music, or spending time with friends.
Seek support
If school stress feels overwhelming, don't hesitate to ask for help. Talk to a teacher, school counselor, or a trusted friend. If you need additional support, professional mental health resources can make a difference.
was produced by and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
3 ways companies can prioritize employee mental health
3 ways companies can prioritize employee mental health
Mental health concerns were front and center for office workers adjusting to fully remote work environments at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Between feelings of isolation, a never-ending news cycle, and the stress of staying safe, people sought support from their workplaces. A noted that employee benefits such as stress management, life coaching, and meditation programs increased in 2020. But, for many, it still wasn't enough. As the pandemic waned, industries that didn't give employees enough independence when it came to their work locations and how they allotted their time (such as dine-in restaurants, sporting events, and music concerts) saw the most employee exits, leading to the Great Resignation, Professor Dr. Isabell Welpe at the Technical University of Munich, told the .
Even today, employers are still working to restructure their approach to mental health support to boost morale and retention. In many cases, workers are recognizing those changes. The American Psychological Association's found that 71% of people think their employer is more concerned about their mental health now than in the past.
But even with good intentions, employers are still falling short in providing a workplace environment that prioritizes well-being and meets their workers' needs. Mental Health America's 2023 found that 81% of employees who experienced work stress in 2022 felt it impacted their mental health compared to the 78% who reported the same thing in the year prior. To support building better workplaces, analyzed academic research and news coverage to explore ways companies can prioritize employee mental health.
For some, the root of workplace stress begins with managers. SHRM's survey of 1,400 employees in 2024 cited poor management as one of the major stressors for employees, along with workload and understaffing. For others, it can mean things such as toxic workplace behavior, ambiguity in their role, and interpersonal conflict, according to of 30,000 employees in 30 countries. Self-efficacy, purpose, and belonging can help offset these feelings.
Since the pandemic, companies have invested in employee wellness programs, a practice that market research company MarketsandMarkets projects to be globally by 2026. However, many of these programs, which incorporate elements like meditation apps and online therapy, take a one-size-fits-all approach that overlooks broader and systemic workplace issues, according to an article published by the .
Christine Nicholl, founder of HR consulting company People X, told Stacker that in order to cultivate a psychologically safe workplace, offering programs that address mental health can only go so far. "You can have the best benefits in the world, but if somebody's burnt because their manager isn't leading effectively 鈥 they're probably going to go find somewhere else to work," she said. Keep reading to learn how companies can help their employees' mental health.
Ask the people
In Ashley Kera's eyes, there's still a stigma surrounding mental health. The founder and principal consultant at Kera Coaching & Consulting advises companies to take time to invest in making actionable changes.
"Rather than be reactive to employee issues, be proactive," she told Stacker. "How can you cultivate those cultures and provide systems and policies to really support them?"
Over the years, workers have spoken up on the policies and programs they want. When given the option to select from a list of 12 types of support they'd like to receive, the APA's 2022 survey found the top four chosen included flexible work hours (41%), a culture where time off is respected (34%), an option for remote work (33%), and a four-day work week (31%).
Experts caution companies not to fall into the trap of "carewashing" policies, an approach Harvard Business Review authors describe as "superficial care initiatives that workers may perceive as failing to tackle root causes" of workplace concerns. Instead, McKinsey Health Institute recommends a "holistic health" framework encompassing an employee's "physical, mental, social, and spiritual health." From there, companies can start to make changes for people individually, at the job level, within a team, and organizationally.
With flexible work arrangements becoming the norm in recent years, employees may need remote, hybrid, or in-person accommodations based on their role, workflow, and personal responsibilities. The APA advises companies to before presenting various options for workers so employees can determine which options best suit their circumstances.
Be good models
In her , Daroon Jalil found that while 73% of employees said their companies claim to care about mental health, almost half said those workplaces don't take actions that support this sentiment. She notes one way to cultivate a workplace environment that benefits mental health is for leaders to be positive models. For example, a leader telling colleagues they're taking a few days off to unwind after a lengthy work project is modeling good mental health care practices.
Companies can create work-life balance through four-day work weeks to help employees manage stress and productivity. Trials of the model in other countries have led to more productivity and a boost in mental and physical health, according to the .
It's also important for company leaders to proactively encourage workers to take advantage of the benefits available to them. Almost 70% of workers are unaware of what their employer offers, according to the SHRM. In Nicholl's experience, this information will sometimes exist on a company's intranet, an internal network where a business disseminates information to its workers, often without further advertisement.
"Sometimes you have a really great program that just sits on the shelf because nobody knows it's there," she said.
Train the leaders
New programs and policies don't become successful overnight. This process requires leaders to learn more viable ways to support workers, effectively train managers, and listen to employee feedback.
Kera advises companies to step back, listen, and get to know their employees instead of making assumptions about their needs. That can start with collecting feedback through anonymous surveys, suggestion boxes at town hall meetings, or conducting focus groups.
"What's the data telling you? What do they want? What's feasible?" she said.
Managerial training is also crucial to creating a more psychologically safe workplace. For example, a previous company Nicholl worked at focused on the role of managers because of their multiplier effect within an organization. The thought process was, "Take care of the manager, and they'll take care of everybody else," she explained.
Taking the time to improve a manager's interpersonal skills has proven to , according to a 2021 analysis published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. And it makes a difference on a day-to-day level. Those who have a supportive manager are not only more comfortable asking for support, but they're also more confident in providing feedback, according to Mental Health America's survey.
Restructuring an organization's mental health approach can seem daunting, but establishing goals and metrics, creating a plan to streamline them into existing workflows, and actively following up on its progress can leave a lasting impact on an employee's perception of the company. A found that reporting on how well a company is doing when it comes to the health of its employees could build trust between employees and companies.
"I'm a big believer [that] if you invest in the people, it's going to benefit your brand, bottom line," Kera said.
Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Elisa Huang. Copy editing and photo selection by Kristen Wegrzyn.
originally appeared on and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
