Mental Health Service Provision at School-Based Health Centers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Findings from a National Listening Session

Abstract Mental health issues are the leading cause of disability among youth, especially among those in underserved communities. School-based health centers (SBHCs) increase equity by providing health services to more than six million youth annually, a majority of whom reside in resource-limited communities. When schools throughout the United States closed in spring 2020, many SBHCs were also forced to close physical operations. This study uses qualitative data collected from SBHC representatives nationwide to examine: 1) supports and challenges that affect the provision of mental health services in SBHCs during the COVID-19 pandemic; 2) changes in the provision of mental health services at SBHCs one year into the pandemic compared to before the pandemic; and 3) SBHCs’ priorities for assessing and supporting student mental health needs in the 2021-22 school year. Study findings highlight how SBHCs pivoted, even with limited resources, to meet students’ increasing needs for mental health care.