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There’s been a wake-up call in the educational sector, echoed by society at large, about the growing mental health challenges facing students. More children and adolescents are receiving diagnoses, and more schools are reporting an increase in students seeking mental health services.

As K-12 educators and clinicians come to grips with this reality, there’s been a commensurate sea change in the recognition that timely intervention can make all the difference in a student’s academic and personal trajectory. 

For most people, video games are a form of entertainment. For Rhoda Au, Ph.D., professor at Boston University, video games represent something far more profound: a potential window into the human brain.

Mental health screening and assessment tools are more important than ever, and one of the most foundational tools — the Behavior Assessment System for Children™ (BASC™) — is about to be released by Pearson in its fourth edition. As we discussed in a recent episode of “Healthy Minds, Bright Futures: How to Navigate Mental Health and Build Support,” the BASC™-4 includes key updates for clinicians and educators while also retaining the evidence-based focus that has made it an effective suite of materials for nearly 40 years.

In recent decades, an increasing number of children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across the U.S. According to the latest CDC data, the number of 8-year-olds identified with ASD is about 1 in 31. However, as discussed on a recent episode of our podcast, “Healthy Minds, Bright Futures: How to Navigate Mental Health and Build Support,” there is more to that number than meets the eye.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects an estimated 7 million children in the US, and it can be challenging to diagnose due to complex symptom presentation and varying levels of healthcare resources. Diagnosis rates are inconsistent across different geographies, ranging from 6% to 16% across states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As a school-based occupational or physical therapist, you know that time is your most precious resource. Between evaluations, documentation, meetings and direct therapy, your schedule is packed. And as productivity expectations continue to rise, the number of hours in each day remains stubbornly the same!

Here are some practical ways to maximize your valuable time (without compromising quality) by making strategic assessment choices and leveraging the power of digital tools.