Lisa Ciappi, Chief Clinical Officer 
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and in nearly every district conversation happening this month, the same question comes up: does our building actually have a plan, or do we just have a crisis team we hope never gets used? Those are not the same thing. A crisis team tells you who responds after something … Read more
Every September, two observances arrive together: Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month. And every September, they arrive at exactly the moment when millions of students walk back into school buildings, back into the one place in American life where caring adults see young people every single day.
What building leaders notice first — and what to do about it By the time the fire drills are behind you, and the master schedule has settled, most principals already have a read on how the year is forming. Not from a dashboard, but from hallways, cafeterias, and the quiet asides teachers make in passing. … Read more
There is a question every superintendent, principal, and student services director carries into August, whether or not it ever gets said out loud: what are our students bringing back with them this year? Backpacks and schedules, yes. But also, everything a summer holds — growth spurts and friendships, and for many students, three months away … Read more
Mental Health Awareness Month began in 1949 by Mental Health America, an organization started by a psychiatric patient-turned-advocate who was harmed by the institutions that were supposed to care for him. Thankfully, mental health has come a very long way since 1949, but the modern-day challenges our students navigate are much different. And schools play … Read more
The death of a young person by any means is tragic, but a death by suicide has far-reaching effects on surviving family members and on both the school and the larger community. Schools are uniquely positioned to address the crisis of youth suicide and are vital for effective suicide prevention in schools because students spend the bulk of their days in school. As such, schools are critical spaces for early identification, intervention, and prevention.
Suicides and attempted suicides affect the entire family as well as school and larger communities. Educational institutions, therefore, are uniquely positioned to act as the front line of prevention. By implementing suicide prevention programs, training staff, and reducing stigma, schools can help protect vulnerable students.
The start of a new school year brings a blend of excitement and stress, especially for students who are prone to anxiety. Parents, educators, and school leaders all play vital roles in helping to smooth this transition, and all can contribute to a student’s sense of safety and confidence in the classroom environment. Addressing anxiety in teens requires a multifaceted approach.
The connection between learning and student well-being has never been clearer. As the new school year begins, school leaders are increasingly aware that academic success is tied directly to the state of a student’s mental health. Utilizing a comprehensive mental health checklist is one of the most effective ways to monitor and support both students and staff members, fostering a positive school environment.
Fill out the form to request a meeting with one of our clinical experts to explore ways we can partner to strengthen your mental health programs.
In-school mental health services and simplified CYBHI reimbursement.
We help districts build clinical programming, manage the CYBHI reimbursement process, and capture more eligible reimbursement without adding administrative burden.
Complete this form to schedule a free mental health planning session where we will discuss available financial sources you can leverage to fund school-based mental health programs in your district.
At ESS, we have an unrelenting focus on data, measuring results, and communicating to our partners the proven impact our programming has on mental health, school outcomes and financial sustainability.
With every ESS partner, we will:
• Set data driven goals at the beginning of every implementation
• Have regular “Report Card” meetings in which we share the impact of ESS services
• Monitor data along the way to look for potential risk areas so that these can be proactively addressed
Complete this form to discuss best practices for districts, states, and federal policymakers that will reinvent mental health in schools over the next five years.
Complete this form to schedule a free consultation to learn more about your needs and challenges and to provide insights on where you may be able to improve mental health support.
