Unveiling Universal Mental Health Screening: School Psychologists' Perspectives & Practices

The critical need to address mental health problems among children, combined with the increasing emphasis on universal mental health screening in school settings, underscores the importance of understanding influences on the use of these measures. There is a mental health crisis in the nation, yet the use of universal mental health screening varies across the country. This study examined how school psychologists use universal screening tools in their work to understand variability in their use across schools. Using a survey design, the researchers developed and administered a survey to school psychologists to gather perceptions and insights regarding the implementation and use of universal screening measures. Questions focused on school psychologists' use of universal screening tools for behavioral and mental health, including both contextual and personal factors that may influence the use of universal social‐emotional screeners. The findings identified significant predictors of screening and revealed national trends in the use of these tools. Implications for practice and recommendations for future research are discussed.