At the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), efforts to expand mental health awareness and support are growing through Project ECHO Nevada's School-Based Mental Health Program. Project ECHO Nevada works to increase the capacity of health care and education professionals to support the health and well-being of communities across the state. Through accessible virtual learning sessions, participants connect with an interdisciplinary team of experts and gain practical skills to provide high-quality care and support. 

The School-Based Mental Health Program was created through a partnership between the Nevada Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Technical Assistance Center (PBISTA) within the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities, and the Nevada Department of Education. The program was made possible through funding from the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health. Together, these organizations are working to expand access to school-based mental health services and improving academic, behavioral and mental health outcomes for students. 

School-Based Mental Health Program Statistics 

• 26 total sessions
• More than 2,700 attendees
• 264 unique sites
• 25 student cases 

Designed for educators, counselors, school psychologists, nurses, administrators and other school leaders, the program helps school-based professionals strengthen their ability to recognize and respond to mental health needs. Through a series of virtual learning sessions, participants discuss real-world case studies and collaborate with experts and peers to better understand the challenges students face. Project ECHO Senior Program Manager Troy Jorgensen reflected on the benefits of participating in the program. 

“We want participants to feel more empowered to manage and take care of these things on their own within their communities,” Jorgensen explained. “It’s also about giving them more tools and a broader network of professionals.”  

The program is led in collaboration with the University’s College of Education and Human Development through the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities. One of the greatest strengths of the program is the interdisciplinary team of experts including Behavioral Analyst, Ashley Greenwald, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, School Nurse, Sheila Story, MSN, MPH, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Dana Robinson, MSW, LCSW, and former school administrator, Tracy Fisher, M.Ed., Erika Ryst, M.D., a child and adolescent psychiatrist, research associate professor at the College of Education and Human Development, and medical director of the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities, helped establish the partnership after recognizing that Project ECHO’s virtual learning model could support Nevada's education workforce in much the same way it has benefitted health care professionals. 

The series covers a wide range of topics including building effective school mental health systems, implementing evidence-based interventions, conducting universal and targeted mental health screenings,  supporting students with anxiety, depression and ADHD, and connecting students with community resources when their needs exceed available school supports. These topics were selected as a means of empowering school-based professionals to recognize and understand their students’ mental health needs, as well as offering strategies for them to support. 

"Our School Mental Health ECHOs have been filled with vibrant and engaging discussion and interaction," Ryst said. "Teachers and other educators have a great deal of experience sharing ideas and collaborating, making them a natural fit for the Project ECHO model." 

According to Ryst, schools are one of the best places to provide early mental health prevention and intervention because they reach children where they spend much of their time. 

"Supporting students' mental health not only improves their well-being, but also helps improve their academic outcomes," Ryst said. "By providing prevention and early intervention in schools, we have an opportunity to identify concerns early and connect students with the support they need." 

By bringing mental health knowledge and practical strategies directly into schools, the program helps ensure students feel supported not only in clinical settings but also in classrooms and environments they experience every day.  

"It's easy for school-based professionals to just say, 'Go see a therapist,'" Jorgensen said. "No, there are things that you can do even in your classroom to make this student feel safer or feel like they matter. They're not just another student moving through the system." 

Ryst emphasized that the program benefits a broad range of school professionals, including counselors, psychologists, social workers, teachers, special educators and administrators. 

"Supporting student mental health is an all-hands-on-deck activity," Ryst said. "Whether participants want to build integrated school mental health systems, better identify students who are struggling or learn practical classroom strategies, there is something in each ECHO session for everyone." 

This ECHO series made considerable impacts statewide across its 26 total sessions. The interdisciplinary team connected and consulted with more than 2,700 total attendees from 264 unique sites and locations. In addition, the team consulted on 25 student cases, providing their recommendations and guidance on ways to support students, their families, and other school staff. 

By expanding the knowledge and confidence of school-based professionals, Project ECHO Nevada's School-Based Mental Health Program is helping schools across Nevada create healthier learning environments where students feel supported and have the opportunity to thrive.