The Alaska Psychological Association would like to offer its support and endorsement of the Mental Health Services for Students Act (H.R. 721/S. 1841). As students across the nation and in Alaska return to full-time in-person instruction, addressing their growing behavioral health needs is crucial to both their education and overall health and well-being. This critical legislation would provide Alaskan schools with the capacity to provide sustainable mental health services for students by building partnerships between local educational agencies, tribal schools, and community-based organizations, including through training for the entire school community to help identify early warning signs of a crisis and prevent its escalation. As psychologists living and working in Alaska, we know firsthand the difference such legislation would make.

Read the one-pager about H.R. 721/S. 1841 at this link.