Sen. Talbot Ross introduces legislation to expand access to mental health care in schools

AUGUSTA – On Tuesday, April 8, Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, presented legislation before the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs to address Maine’s youth mental health crisis. LD 1203, “An Act to Provide Grants to Schools That Contract for Behavioral and Mental Health Services,” would create a grant program to help schools hire outside mental health providers for students.

“More and more often, we’re seeing students struggling with anxiety, depression and behavioral challenges that are affect their ability to learn and thrive,” said Sen. Talbot Ross. “This bill ensures schools can meet this moment — not by stretching their limited in-house resources, but by partnering with licensed behavioral health providers who are ready to help.”

According to the 2023 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey, nearly 1 in 3 middle school students reported prolonged feelings of sadness or hopelessness. For high school students, that figure climbs to 35%. Alarmingly, the percentage of students seriously considering suicide or attempting it remains in the double digits.

At the same time, a recent point-in-time study by the National Association of Social Workers and the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services found that more than 10,000 Maine residents — both children and adults — are waiting for mental health care.

LD 1203 would enhance the program by which school districts contract with licensed providers to offer counseling, social work and family therapy services to students. The grant program, administered by the Maine Department of Education, would prioritize schools lacking the capacity to hire their own staff, especially in rural communities. In just the last year alone, over 80 schools have lost this service due to financial systems that make it impossible for clinicians to be where children have the easiest access at the most critical times — in school.

Sen. Talbot Ross also cited new research from Dr. Judy Peters, a Maine social worker and researcher, which found that anxiety rates among children in Maine have doubled the national average since 2020. Her study revealed how untreated anxiety shows up in classrooms as disruptive behavior, chronic absenteeism and academic decline, placing additional strain on school staff already at risk of burnout.

“We want to have clinicians in schools[.] The schools, children & families need this resource so they can learn [and] have dramatic improvement in attendance, behavior & academic performance and mental health well-being,” said Jayne Van Bramer, CEO of Sweetser, Inc.

“This program provides a lifeline to children & their families. The need is great and the time is now to help our kids.”

LD 1203 now awaits further action in the committee.

Sen. Talbot Ross represents part of her hometown of Portland and Peaks Island in the Maine Senate.