Youth mental health: District discusses survey insights and Northwell partnership

While youth mental health issues have been increasing over the last decade (experts began sounding the alarm in the early 2010s), the COVID-19 pandemic amplified the problem by disrupting routines, social connections and access to support. The crisis was officially recognized as a national emergency in October 2021, when leading pediatric organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA), issued a joint declaration.

“Rates of childhood mental health concerns and suicide rose steadily between 2010 and 2020 and by 2018 suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24,” the statement reads. “The pandemic has intensified this crisis: across the country we have witnessed dramatic increases in Emergency Department visits for all mental health emergencies including suspected suicide attempts.”

In 2021, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory highlighting the crisis. He pointed to social media, academic pressure, trauma and systemic health inequities as significant contributors to mental health issues and stressed the urgent need for increased access to mental health care, better education on mental health for families and schools, and policies that promote resilience and emotional well-being in young people.

In 2022, President Joe Biden called for more funding to expand community-based mental health services, school-based counseling and efforts to curb the negative effects of social media during his State of the Union address, and organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have emphasized early intervention and the need for a whole-community approach to foster a supportive environment for children and adolescents.

Disparities in youth mental health are also a significant concern, as children of color, those with disabilities, and English language learners often face higher risks of mental health challenges and lower access to care. Black and Hispanic children, for example, are less likely to receive mental health services compared to white children, even when showing similar symptoms. Children with disabilities frequently face social isolation and bullying, contributing to higher rates of anxiety and depression. And English language learners may struggle with cultural adjustment and language barriers, which can impact their ability to seek help or fully communicate their needs. 

Addressing these disparities, experts agree, requires culturally competent care, better school-based mental health services, and policies that reduce barriers to access and promote equity.

NEN school district’s Panorama survey results
In an effort to capture the Northport-East Northport student body’s sense of belonging and well-being, the district began gathering data through Panorama Education, an organization that provides survey tools for schools and educational institutions, in the fall of 2020. 

Panorama surveys are used to gather feedback from students in grades 3 through 12 and assess key areas such as student well-being, social-emotional learning and school climate. They also measure perceptions of safety, inclusivity and positive relationships with school staff.

To date, the district has results from nine Panorama surveys (every fall and spring since 2020); a “historical overview” of the data was presented during the January 28 Board Belonging Committee meeting. 

The survey results are broken down into five topics. For each, a description and sample question, as well as the fall 2024 results are provided below:

Sense of belonging
How much students feel that they are valued members of the school community. Sample question: How well do people at your school understand you as a person?
Grades 3-5, percent of favorable responses: 75%
Grades 6-12, percent of favorable responses: 64%

Supportive relationships
How supported students feel through their relationships with friends, family and adults at school. Sample question: Do you have a teacher or other adults from school who you can count on to help you, no matter what?
Grades 3-5, percent of favorable responses: 92%
Grades 6-12, percent of favorable responses: 90%

Positive feelings
How frequently students feel positive emotions. Sample question: During the past week, how often did you feel loved?
Grades 3-5, percent of favorable responses: 76%
Grades 6-12, percent of favorable responses: 75%

Challenging feelings
How frequently students feel challenging emotions. Sample question: During the past week, how often did you feel sad?
Grades 3-5, percent of favorable responses: 60%
Grades 6-12, percent of favorable responses: 67%

Emotion regulation
How well students regulate their emotions. Sample question: How often are you able to pull yourself out of a bad mood?
Grades 3-5, percent of favorable responses: 48%
Grades 6-12, percent of favorable responses: 61%

A subgroup analysis of the survey indicates that compared to the total population data provided above, English as a new language (ENL) students and students with disabilities (SWD) have consistently lower favorable results across all grade levels. Non-white students are also scoring lower than the total population for grades 6 through 12.

For example, 60% of students in grades 3 through 5 reported favorable results when asked about having challenging feelings, compared to 42% of ENL learners and 53% of SWD.

For emotional regulation, 48% of the total population in grades 3 through 5 reported favorable results, compared to 35% of ENL leaders and 43% of SWD. For students in grades 6 through 12, 61% of the total population reported favorable results about emotional regulation, compared to 45% of ENL students, 55% of SWD and 55% of non-white students. 

In its presentation of survey data, the district indicates that for most of the five topics, NEN is in the 80-99th percentile for national benchmarks, with lower scores (60-79th percentile) for emotion regulation in grades 3 through 5 and sense of belonging in grades 6 through 12.

Counseling curriculum and mental health services
The NEN district currently has an elementary school counseling curriculum in place for students in grades K through 4. The curriculum is aligned with the American School Counselor Association’s standards (called Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success) and New York Social Emotional Learning (SEL) benchmarks. Topics covered in first and second grades, for example, include identifying emotions, self regulation and problem solving. In third grade, students learn about recognizing, refusing and responding to bullying. 

In addition to the counseling curriculum and services, the district also has a partnership with Northwell’s Behavioral Health Center, which provides access to urgent mental health support for children and adolescents ages 5 to 18. 

A presentation on special education and student support services made at the January 9 board of education meeting indicated that from July 2024 to December 2024, 68 new student appointments were made through this partnership (59 initial, 6 crisis and 3 walk-in appointments). There have been 28 follow-up visits. 

Through the partnership, NEN students can be referred to Northwell Health through the district and their cases will be prioritized, Assistant Superintendent for Special Education and Student Services Louis Bonadonna told the Journal. “There are slots daily for emergencies. Any student in an acute crisis can be seen that same day. Follow-up or more routine issues that are not immediate are typically seen within a week,” Bonadonna explained. The program does not provide ongoing mental health treatment, but is meant to supply urgent mental health support to students within partnership districts (which also includes Commack, Harborfields, Huntington and Smithtown). 

The mental health clinic is open Monday through Thursday from 8am to 8pm and Friday from 8am to 5pm. Any cases reported after hours or on the weekends are referred to DASH or CPEP programs, which operate 24/7 for anyone in crisis, Bonadonna said. 

For mental health services provided through this program, all insurance is accepted to the extent it exists, Bonadonna said. If families do not have insurance or have high deductibles, the cost is reduced to a copayment amount (typically $50). If that’s a hardship for a family, the copayment is waived.

In addition to outpatient services for referred students, Northwell Health staff are also available to district staff for consultative services. “With appropriate consent, Northwell staff are available to support cases of concern. There are also monthly meetings on a variety of topics as part of a robust professional development program. When cases are referred, there are ongoing conversations and updates, and treatment plans are developed and implemented,” Bonadonna explained.

The Board Belonging Committee presentation made on January 28, which includes Panorama Survey results, can be found here. Information about Northwell Health’s school district collaboration for mental health services can be found here.