By Ally Figiel
Journey Mental Health
As students settle into a new school year, local schools are preparing for something that may reveal what isn’t always visible in the classroom: how students are feeling beneath the surface.
Schools across Dane County are scheduling mental health screenings for the 2026–27 school year through Journey Mental Health Center’s REST Program. Last year, nearly 4,000 middle and high school students participated in the screenings. For 1,186 students, results indicated a potential mental health concern that prompted one-on-one follow-up or even higher levels of intervention.
The screenings can identify students experiencing mental health symptoms who might otherwise go unnoticed –– including students who appear to be doing well.
“Every year, we recognize that universal screening leads to the identification of students who are struggling with mental health symptoms that no one knew about,” said Nelsie Stern, Director of Youth Mental Health Services at Journey Mental Health Center. “Each year, schools tell us that they didn’t know a kid, who looked like they were doing okay, was thinking about suicide. Screening leads to faster support for kids who may not be on anyone’s radar.”
What happens after a student is screened
Mental health screening is only the beginning of the process. When a screening indicates that a student may be struggling, Journey works with school staff to make sure there is an opportunity to follow up and determine what kind of support may be helpful.
Follow-up can include connecting students with additional mental health resources or opportunities for ongoing support. Last school year, 220 students were invited to participate in school-based support groups.
“Early intervention can shape a child’s long-term well-being,” Nelsie said. “When a student finds the courage to share that they are struggling and a caring adult responds with support, the message is powerful: You matter. You are seen. You are not alone. That experience can strengthen a child’s sense of safety, belonging and self-worth — and can make a lasting difference in their ability to thrive.”
For students who participated in Journey’s school-based support groups last year, 76% showed improvement in depression scores and 61% showed improvement in traumatic stress scores.
Bringing screening and support directly into schools can also reduce barriers that may prevent young people from accessing mental health care outside of school, including transportation, costs, scheduling, and knowing where to turn for help.
Beyond the Backpack supports school-based mental health services
As schools prepare for another year of screening, Journey is also raising funds to help sustain the programming and resources needed to provide mental health support before, during and after those screenings.
Journey’s Beyond the Backpack campaign aims to raise $20,000 to support the staff, individual follow-up, school-based groups, and connections to additional resources that help ensure students can get support when they need it.
Through September 30, 2026, donations to Beyond the Backpack will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $10,000, thanks to a matching gift from a Journey supporter.
More information about Beyond the Backpack and Journey’s school-based mental health services is available at jour
neymhc.org/beyondthebackpack
