School-Based Mental Health Screening Programs Report. Report to the Education Interim Committee

Utah Code 53F-2-522 and Board Rule R277-625, "Mental Health Screeners," sets standards for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to implement approved mental health screening programs for students. The legislature has appropriated a $1,000,000 for the program in 2024, however prior the allocation was $500,000. During the 2023-2024 school year, 60 of the 155 LEAs statewide participated in the school-based mental health screening program. Those 60 LEAs screened 10,380 students for the possible presence of symptoms related to anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation. As a result of the screenings, approximately 2,869 students (or 28%) were then connected to services either within the LEA or as a referral to community resources. Charts within the report provide a comparison from the 2020-2021 school year to the 2023-2024 school year.