High school athletes are not immune to mental health challenges. The persistent lack of state or national mental health guidelines for athletes has impacted high school athletes' abilities to access and apply resources in a mentally healthy manner. This can impact not only a high school athlete's career but can leave lasting effects on collegiate…

Decades of research in the field of psychology explores public school environments, however it was only recently that psychologists and mental health professionals have begun incorporating themselves into school communities directly. While research has examined the use of retributive and restorative methods, little quantitative research identifies…

Adolescence is characterized by a multitude of challenges, namely ones concerning mental health and wellness. To address this problem, many schools have implemented mental health programs based on campus. While the progress of school-based mental health programs has been explored and documented, there is a gap in the literature about the audience,…

Delivering first-rate services that addresses the needs of high school students is crucial to the structural sustainability for a counseling department within a high school setting. A well-planned improvement of the structural profile of a counseling department which supports students seeking mental health assistance will become an important part…

Adolescence is a period of growth, independence, and exploration, with increased curiosity and risk-taking behaviors (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021b). Evidence has shown an increase in mental health concerns during adolescence, including suicidal behaviors (CDC, 2023b; Plemmons et al., 2018; Yard et al., 2021), as well as…

This dissertation investigates the relationship between stigma, knowledge, and help-seeking attitudes among high school students in two New York City Jewish day schools: a Modern Orthodox all-boys high school and a Sephardic Orthodox Jewish all-girls high school. The primary focus is on understanding how these factors: stigma about mental illness…

The phenomenon of high school dropouts is a silent epidemic that has been plaguing the United States. This study examined the effects of online education on mental health and student retention of online students within the scope of secondary education. The data for this mixed methods study was collected through anonymous online questionnaires sent…

The mental health crisis is on the rise, and adolescents are reporting higher levels of anxiety and depression. High school students' academic achievement, engagement, and hope for goal attainment are decreasing due to their mental health. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) on high school…

School shootings, a tragic occurrence throughout history, have garnered heightened attention in recent decades, largely due to widespread media coverage and the rise of social media platforms. Recent school shootings have created an increased need for school safety and security. Schools have added cameras, metal detectors, electronic door locks,…

School mass shootings have been increasing, leading to the need to better understand how exposure to these events affects high school and college students' academic performance, psychosocial functioning, and mental health. With a greater understanding of these effects, results can be used to inform the contemporary literature on the psychological…

The purpose of this study was to understand the unique mental health challenges of dual credit high school students, examine my contributions to these challenges, and explore possibilities for a curriculum to address those unique challenges to foster growth and healing in response to the escalating mental health crisis affecting high achieving…

This dissertation aims to elucidate that current school-based mental health services need a more LGBTQI+ affirmative stance to counter and disrupt the heteronormativity, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia that LGBTQI+ students regularly encounter at school. Many LGBTQI+ students continue to be harassed, bullied, and discriminated against;…

The United States of America has a unique problem of school shootings. The victims of school shootings are robbed of their futures at the very institutions attempting to prepare them for college, career, and citizenship. These shootings have inspired massive, costly security upgrades in American schools. This target hardening is one way to prevent…

This case study was built following an examination of a series of disparities regarding LGBTQ+ High School aged students. Data has been collected that highlights the differences in Mental Health, well-being, School Performance and School Belonging which all factor into an overtly negative experience for this population. In order to better…

This study utilizes archival data from a district-based initiative aimed at improving the provision of school-based mental health services. It dives deep into the stories of adolescents who were classified and receiving special education supports, which included school-based counseling. These students endured challenging family contexts. A…