Ecosystemic Advocacy for Elementary Mental Health. Issue 1 (4th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Regina N.; Gruman, Diana H.; Purgason, Lucy L.
• Is Part Of: Professional school counseling. Volume 26:Issue 1a(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03-04
• Subjects: advocacy -- evidence-based counseling -- mental health -- elementary school -- suicide; Educational counseling -- United States -- Periodicals; Educational counseling; United States; Periodicals; 371.4
• DOI: 10.1177/2156759X221086730
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1096-2409

Abstract

Systemic inequity in education compels school counselors to widen their scope of advocacy beyond their local school environment. Fortunately, the tools of evidence-based, data-driven school counseling can be scaled up to influence change in larger systems. We present an advocacy project undertaken by an elementary school counselor who was alarmed by a significant increase in children's mental health concerns. She initiated a state-wide survey of school counselors that revealed a dire need for mental health support at the elementary level. Using an ecological framework, we report on the data-driven advocacy actions she pursued to raise awareness of the serious concerns of young students across her state.