back to school mental health

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — As students settle into their new school routines, the transition can bring a wave of emotions and stressors.

According to a 2025 Council on Postsecondary Education mental health report, 80% of Kentucky students reported experiencing some level of academic impairment due to mental or emotional difficulties. 

Amanda Villaveces is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She started her nonprofit, Mental Health Lou, after realizing how overwhelming it can be for people to find local resources, hoping to make the search more accessible.

“You can talk to teachers just to check in,” said Villaveces. “Maybe school is fine and maybe it’s something at home that behavior changes.” 

Building on that idea, Jim Masters, superintendent at Henry County Schools, said that their approach to prioritizing social emotional learning has drastically improved suspension rates. 

This looks like getting rid of old-school practices like the time-out room, and instead, requiring teachers to start a conversation with students that prioritizes mental health. 

Masters said this move has changed the fight-or-flight mindset many students with behavioral challenges face. 

“You begin to learn by building that relationship and trust,” said Masters. “‘Hey, something’s not right with this kid,’ and that’s when the next step would be, well, let’s refer this child to one of our counselors and let them use their expertise to really dig down and determine what’s going on with the child.”

Even as more solutions are introduced to support student mental health, it’s just one part of a larger challenge the state will continue to face, as the pandemic still has lasting effects on the younger population. 

“We’ve never had that type of isolation,” said Kelly Taulbee with Kentucky Voices for Health. “The more patience and grace we can give to each other, but especially to young people who are already grappling with emotional development, the better.”

Villaveces said that there’s often one group often left out of the mental health conversation: teachers.  

She advises teachers to seek resources and support to manage their stress and understand what their mental health needs are.