ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — A study done by KFF shows 18% of students across the nation used mental health services at schools in 2025.
More than half the school districts also reported seeing an increased number of students using the school-based mental health services.
Students are often seeking assistance from counselors for issues happening at home and during the school day.
WEAR News learned Escambia County schools has continuously worked to expand their mental health services to ensure students have the help they need.
The stabbing attack in Walton County rattled schools across Northwest Florida. On Tuesday, a 12-year-old attacked two fellow students and a paraprofessional.
“The students he harmed, the paraprofessional, I can’t imagine what those student communities, staff and student families are going through,” Melissa Williams, coordinator for mental health service at Escambia County Public Schools.
Williams believes mental health may be a discussion with the investigation.
“One of the things we do is rationalize and there is no rational explanation for this,” Williams said.
She says the number of school mental health counselors in Escambia County has expanded each year.
“In 2018, we had six. And now at the start of this year, we’re at 32,” Williams said.
The positions are state-funded. Williams says the district needs more mental health counselors to meet the demand.
“Our mental health department in our district is funded solely with our mental health allocation,” said Williams. “While it is taxpayer dollars from the state of Florida, we rely on that allocation that’s approved by the legislature and then the governor. So we are hopeful for an increase.”
Holly Bussie is a school counseling specialist with Escambia County. She says students are coming to them with anxiety issues, family issues, and in extreme cases — suicidal thoughts. She says the leading cause of that is social media.
“They come in upset because someone posted about them on another person’s story and they just completely fall apart. And that’s sad,” Bussie said. “That’s what’s happened because it takes away those interpersonal connections. we don’t talk to one another like what we used to do.”
The district also has 80 school counselors who focus on school-related issues, like classes, schedules, and graduation. They were once called guidance counselors.
Bussie says those counselors are also trained in mental health.
“We need to have more mental health counselors,” Bussie said. “My plug is we have mental health folks in the schools, they are school counselors. They just have so many things on their plate, so that could be something legislators could look at.”
If you’d like to learn more about the specific mental health services at your school, you’re asked to reach out to your child’s school directly.