Mandatory Mental Health Screening in Schools (Passed in Illinois) Found to Make No Difference

From the Manhattan Institute :

Mental health screening in public schools has grown in recent years. As of 2021, nearly one-third of American schools reported that their district mandated student screening.[1] While widespread implementation has occurred somewhat inconspicuously, empirical evidence has shown that universal mental health screening does not improve clinical or academic outcomes and indeed has harmful effects.

This issue brief provides an overview of universal school-based mental health screening, related law and evidence, and practical and ethical concerns. It finds that:

1. Universal mental health screenings are ineffective: they do not reduce the prevalence of mental health conditions or improve academic outcomes.
2. Universal mental health screenings are harmful: they produce overwhelmingly high rates of false positives and, when delivered in schools, have fewer protections in place than in clinical settings.

Given the lack of evidence for universal mental health screening, this brief recommends its prohibition in schools. For targeted and individual school-based mental health screenings, far stronger regulatory conditions are warranted. Model legislation is provided for implementing these recommendations.

It is a comprehensive analysis.