Elementary children at desks raising their hands in classroom

About School Mental Health at the South Southwest MHTTC 

With targeted funding from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the South Southwest MHTTC is working to expand the capacity of schools in our region to deliver evidence-based mental health promotion, supports and services to students within the school setting. We are deeply committed to supporting the work of professionals in education and mental health as they build school mental health in Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) and to improving the lives of their students, especially those experiencing mental health challenges. 

We accomplish this work through information sharing, resource development, consultation and training, and by partnering with state agencies supporting school mental health in the region. 

Upcoming School Mental Health Events

Apr

11

Youth Mental Health First Aid

The South Southwest MHTTC presents Mental Health First Aid, which is an early intervention education

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Jun

23

Youth Mental Health First Aid

The South Southwest MHTTC presents Mental Health First Aid, an early intervention education program

Jul

17

Youth Mental Health First Aid TOT

This YMHFA Instructor training is a skills-based course that teaches caring professionals and

Recent School Mental Health Products & Resources

Selected School Mental Health Resources 

Trauma-Informed Care 

Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package  
Developed by the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, the Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package offers school and district administrators and staff a framework and roadmap for adopting a trauma-sensitive approach school- or districtwide. 

Creating, Supporting, And Sustaining Trauma-Informed Schools: A System Framework 
Developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, this resource guide presents a tiered approach to creating a trauma-informed school environment that addresses the needs of all students, staff, administrators, and families who might be at risk for experiencing the symptoms of traumatic stress. 

Trauma-Informed School Strategies during COVID-19 
Developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, this fact sheet Provides trauma-informed school strategies in response to COVID-19.  

Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom: A Resource for Educators 
Developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, this resource guide helps educators understand how they might address the interplay of race and trauma and its effects on students in the classroom. 

Educator Wellness  

Professional Quality of Life Scare (PROQOL) 
Available through the Center for Victims of Torture, the PROQOL measures the negative and positive effects of helping others who experience suffering and trauma.  

Teacher Subjective Well-being Questionnaire (TSWQ): Measure and User Guide  
Available through the Open Science Framework, the Teacher Subjective Wellbeing Questionnaire is an 8-item self-report rating scales for measuring teachers' job-specific wellbeing. 

STAT: Support for Teachers Affected by Trauma 
Developed by a group of experts in the fields of secondary traumatic stress (STS), education, and technology, the STAT curriculum is designed to help educators understand Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) and provide ways to mitigate its effects through the use of self-care techniques and a variety of helpful resources.  

Compassion Resilience Toolkit for School 
Developed in partnership by the Wisconsin Initiative for Stigma Elimination, Rogers InHealth, and the Wisconsin Department of Public Education, the Compassion Resilience Toolkit for Schools offers information, activities, and resources for school leadership and staff to understand, recognize, and minimize the experience of compassion fatigue and to increase compassion resilience. 

Comprehensive School Mental Health  

National School Mental Health Best Practices: Implementation Guidance Modules for States, Districts and Schools 
Co-developed by the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network Coordinating Office and the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH), the this National School Mental Health resource helps states, districts, and schools across the United States understand the core components of comprehensive school mental health and engage in a planning process around implementation of services. 

The SHAPE System: School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation System  
Hosted by the National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the SHAPE System is a public-access, web-based platform that offers schools, districts, and states/territories a workspace and targeted resources to support school mental health quality improvement. 

Screening and Assessment Library  
Part of the SHAPE System, the Screening and Assessment Library provided information and links to free assessment measures that can be used within school mental health. Users can filter measures based on focus area, assessment purpose, student age, language, reporter, and cost. 

Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs 
Like physical health, positive mental health promotes success in life. This resource highlights seven key challenges to providing school- or program-based mental health support across early childhood, K–12 schools, and higher education settings, and presents seven corresponding recommendations. 

Mental Health Literacy  

Youth Mental Health First Aid  
Developed by the National Council for Behavioral Health, Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches school staff how to help adolescents (age 12-18) who are experiencing mental health or addiction challenges or who are in crisis. 

Teen Mental Health First Aid 
Developed by the National Council for Behavioral Health, Teen Mental Health First Aid teaches high school students how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health or substance-use issues in their friends and peers.