Securing School-Based Mental Health Services for Students With Disabilities: An Illustration of the Six-Component Approach

Abstract

The IDEA requires schools to evaluate and provide services to students who have a mental health issue that is deemed an educational disability or a mental health issue that is comorbid with an educational disability. Etscheidt and colleagues (this issue) propose a six component approach to securing school-based mental health services for students with disabilities. This article illustrates the six component approach using two vignettes. The first vignette involves a preschool student referred due to aggression who has not been previously identified as eligible for special education. The second vignette involves a 5th grade student who was receiving special education services under the category of SLD who’s academic progress had plateaued.