In January 2001, the U.S. Surgeon General released a report indicating that one in ten American children and adolescents had a mental health condition that caused some level of impairment in their daily lives. Twenty years later, in 2025, the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory stating that “young people have shown alarming increases in the prevalence of certain mental health challenges.”
In light of the continuing youth mental health crisis, NAMI wrote Parents and Teachers as Allies, a guide to help parents and teachers work together to support their students.
Early intervention is critical in responding to mental health conditions. It’s important that both parents and teachers take note – as each play important and necessary roles in a child’s education and growth.
Parents and Teachers as Allies is a guide meant to help both parents and teachers work together, forming an alliance to help students thrive. Children spend the vast majority of their time at home or at school. By working together, parents and teachers can maximize the potential for early intervention in mental health conditions and in students’ lifelong successes.
Both parents and teachers share one goal: Helping young people learn how to be happy and healthy into adulthood. The Parents and Teachers as Allies guide provides a road map to working with the key adults in a child’s life. In this guide, you’ll find:
Knowing how to support a child experiencing behavioral health concerns isn’t always easy. Working together, parents and teachers can recognize when the need exists to connect students with mental health services and supports.
Things get exponentially better when my son can be surrounded by a team of people, and he is not just relying on me for all of these needs. – Beth, a parent from Illinois
I was not embarrassed by her diagnosis. I didn’t want to be embarrassed by her diagnosis… I let the teachers know right away, asked for a meeting with them, and then I kind of laid out the things that would help her. – Marie, a parent from Massachusetts
Resources for Parents: Learn about key topics related to children’s mental health including topics such as finding mental health care for your child, talking about mental health, how to navigate a mental health crisis, and more.
Resources for Educators: NAMI produces resources to support educators in the classroom including a classroom mental health contract, mental wellness for educators, mindfulness activities, and more.
NAMI Basics, or NAMI Basics OnDemand: NAMI Basics is a free education program designed to empower parents and caregivers of young people with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to navigate youth mental health. NAMI Basics OnDemand is an online version of NAMI Basics available 24/7.
NAMI Ending the Silence: A free, evidence-based presentation session designed to teach about mental health conditions, including personal testimony from a young adult describing their journey to recovery. NAMI Ending the Silence contains three variations: for students, school staff, and families.
NAMI On Campus: This initiative creates student-led and student-run mental health clubs on high school and college campuses. NAMI On Campus creates space for youth to support each other and share their experiences, resources, and knowledge, reducing mental health stigma on campuses across the country.
NAMI TraumaInSight: This course is designed for youth-serving professionals, can be completed in three hours, and is completely free. NAMI TraumaInSight is a virtual training that covers the principles of trauma awareness. When working with youth and young adults, using trauma-informed practices creates safe and secure environments for them.
NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “NAMI” to 62640, or email. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).
