By The Numbers
539,000
Number of K-12 Students (2022 Projection)i
42,000
28,000
Children with major depression who do not receive treatmentiii
1:1,866
Ratio of School Psychologists to Students
(Recommended Ratio 1:500)
1:8,730
Ratio of School Social Workers to Students
(Recommended Ratio 1:250)
1:544
Ratio of School Counselors to Students
(Recommended Ratio 1:250)
Take Action
in Nevada
There is a national emergency in children’s mental health. Children and youth are experiencing soaring rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, loneliness, and suicidality.
Children and youth are experiencing soaring rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, loneliness, and suicidality. Mental health challenges can affect success at school and in life, yet few students get the help they need to thrive.
The Hopeful Futures Campaign, a coalition of national organizations, is committed to ensuring that every student has access to effective and supportive school mental health care. The campaign’s school mental health report cards highlight accomplishments and provide important action steps to help address the children’s mental health crisis in every state.
At A Glance: State School Mental Health Policies
Little or no progress achieved
Some progress achieved
Meaningful progress achieved
Substantial progress achieved
School Mental Health Professionals
Some progress achieved
School psychologists, social workers, and counselors who, together, provide a range of necessary mental health services in schools.
Current Policy Achieved:
• School Psychologists: Illinois has one school psychologist for every 1,261 students (the recommended ratio is 1:500).
• School Social Workers: Illinois has one school social worker for every 741 students (the recommended ratio is 1:250).
• School Counselors: Illinois has one school counselor for every 626 students (the recommended ratio is 1:250).
Policy Opportunity:
Invest in significantly improving the ratios of school psychologists, school social workers, and counselors in K-12, including through telehealth partnerships and workforce programs that incentivize careers in behavioral health.
HOW NEVADA COMPARES State Rankings from Mental Health America iv | 2015 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
Overall State Rank for Youth Mental Health | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 |
Youth with At Least One Major Depressive Episode in the Past Year | 19,000 / 8.48% | 34,000 / 14.97% | 35,000 / 15.11% | 42,000 / 17.93% |
Youth with Major Depressive Episodes in the | Not Asked | 22,000 / 61.4% | 23,000 / 71% | 28,000 / 65.20% |
Youth with Major Severe Depressive Episodes in the Past Year | Not Asked | 28,000 / 13.2% | 26,000 / 11.8% | 29,000 / 13.20% |
Youth with Severe Major Depressive Episodes | Not Asked | 5,000 / 18.70% | 3,000 / 11.2% | 5,000 / 18.70% |
Students Identified with Emotional Disturbance | 1,881 / 4.86% | 1,931 / 4.45% | 1,959 / 4.42% | 2,085 / 4.64% |
Youth with Private Insurance That Did Not | 16,086 / 52% | 8,000 / 7.10% | 13,000 / 12.6% | 8,000 / 7.10% |
Youth with Substance Use Disorder in the Past Year | 15,000 / 6.85% | 12,000 / 5.20% | 12,000 / 5.09% | 13,000 / 5.59% |
ii. The state of Mental Health in America. Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2021, from https://mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america.
iii. The state of Mental Health in America. Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2021, from https://mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america.
iv. The state of Mental Health in America. Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2021, from https://mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america.