부산대학교 도서관

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions, school counselors continue to provide necessary mental health services, support, prevention, intervention, and referrals, as needed, to the increasing number of PK-12 students with mental health needs. School counselors are essential mental health professionals who provide developmentally appropriate, comprehensive, and evidence-based support for all students across education settings including in-person, blended, and virtual formats. Through their ongoing leadership, advocacy, collaboration, and systemic change, school counselors strive to ensure that their roles and responsibilities include supporting the mental health needs of students especially now that those needs have been exacerbated by COVID-19. Adverse childhood experiences during the pandemic have resulted in a need for additional early identification, prevention, and interventions to address the increasing mental health needs of students. Recommendations for more effectively addressing the mental health and social emotional needs of students are included as are suggestions for increasing advocacy for school counselor roles and responsibilities, evidence-based assessments, and the utilization of technology. Finally, the authors conclude by affirming that school counselors should be viewed as essential mental health professionals who are prepared to support the social emotional and behavioral health of students now more than ever when students need support overcoming COVID-19 related obstacles, stressors and trauma-inducing situations.