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 stru

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