From the introduction: "Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, youth mental health challenges were rising. The pandemic exacerbated these issues, as 40% of youth reported feeling persistent sadness or hopelessness that affected their daily activities in 20211. Given that nearly all U.S. youth spend a significant part of their day in school environments that shape their mental, social, and emotional development, schools play a crucial role in providing the necessary support and resources to improve mental health 2. In response to the growing mental health crisis, the federal government provided billions of dollars in post-pandemic funding to increase school-based mental health services 3. Although this funding has enabled schools across the country to expand mental health services, it remains unclear whether these services meet adolescents’ wants and needs.

In this brief, we present findings from focus group discussions with middle school students about their thoughts and experiences with school-based mental health counseling. We highlight students’ perceptions of the barriers and motivations for participating in school counseling and make recommendations for how schools can strengthen these services."