A new report from NYC Comptroller Brad Lander reveals major staffing shortages, fragmented funding and inequitable access to mental health supports across public schools.
A new analysis from New York City Comptroller Brad Lander warns that chronically under-resourced public schools are confronting a worsening youth mental health crisis. Nearly 40% of city high school students report persistent sadness or hopelessness, yet fragmented funding, severe staffing shortages, and uneven access to services are preventing schools from meeting demand.
Students are far more likely to seek help inside school than at community clinics—but support isn’t keeping pace. More than 70% of schools fail to meet national staffing standards for social workers, and over half fall short for guidance counselors. Gaps are starkest for multilingual learners: an estimated 88,000 English Language Learners attend schools with no bilingual mental health staff.
The report outlines structural deficits. To reach basic benchmarks, the Department of Education would need to hire 2,100+ social workers and about 1,200 guidance counselors, at a cost of $400 million+ annually. School-Based Health Centers—identified by students and administrators as the most effective, discreet model—remain underfunded; expanding access to all large high schools would require an additional $40.3 million each year.
“After decades of underinvestment in our schools, a global pandemic, and now unprecedented social upheaval, our city’s young people are left facing the direct impact all at once,” said Comptroller Brad Lander.
Operationally, the Comptroller flags the DOE’s reliance on paper notes and spreadsheets, which hinders consistent tracking of referrals and creates gaps in care. Funding for mental health services is also obscured within broad budget lines. The report further finds that school psychologist staffing is 18% below national standards, limiting schools’ ability to provide ongoing counseling, timely assessments, and culturally responsive supports.
To address these shortfalls, the Comptroller proposes a multi-year infrastructure plan: integrate mental health screenings and social-emotional learning into routine school practices; adopt a citywide hiring roadmap to meet national staffing standards; fully fund and expand School-Based Health Centers; and invest in a more diverse workforce through expanded partnerships with community mental health providers. The report also urges the city to implement a digital case-management system to track referrals and outcomes and to create transparent reporting for all mental health spending.
Advocates featured in the analysis say the current patchwork leaves too many students without timely support—particularly those facing poverty, discrimination, and language barriers. “We are grateful for Comptroller Lander’s tireless advocacy on behalf of the wellbeing of all young New Yorkers in our public schools,” said Martín Urbach of The Circle Keepers. Advocacy groups add that inadequate access to behavioral health services often leads to unnecessary discipline, missed class time, and student pushout.
Across stakeholders, the message is consistent: New York City has workable models, but meaningful progress will require coordination, sustained investment, and a commitment to making mental health a core component of public education.