Debate: Student mental health matters – the heightened need for school-based mental health in the era of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted existing gaps in school-based mental health services and created new and urgent needs to address student mental health. Evidence from early in the pandemic already suggests that preexisting educational and mental health disparities have increased under the stress of the current health crisis. School mental health professionals are essential to help address anxiety, to promote social adjustment in the 'new normal', and to address trauma, grief, and loss. Schools will also need to creatively support teachers during this unprecedented time. Such efforts will require adequate funding and advocacy for the inclusion of school-based mental health supports within governmental COVID-19 aid packages.