RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effects of School-Based Mental Health Services on Youth Outcomes
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 1222-12703R2
DO 10.3368/jhr.1222-12703R2
A1 Golberstein, Ezra
A1 Zainullina, Irina
A1 Sojourner, Aaron
A1 Sander, Mark A.
YR 2023
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2023/10/02/jhr.1222-12703R2.abstract
AB School-based mental health services (SBMH) may increase students’ access to care, which could yield benefits for mental health status and human capital-related outcomes. This paper uses a difference-in-differences design with 19 years of survey and administrative data to estimate the impacts of SBMH on a range of K-12 student outcomes. SBMH increases average outpatient mental health service use and reduces self-reported suicide attempts. There is weaker evidence that SBMH reduces suspensions and juvenile justice involvement, and no evidence that SBMH affects average attendance, standardized test scores, or self-reported substance use.