Bridging SEL and Mental Health: Supporting Underserved Students

Abstract

This chapter explores the integration of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into school-based mental health interventions, emphasizing its role in fostering resilience, emotional regulation, and academic success among underserved students. It highlights the disproportionate mental health challenges faced by marginalized youth and examines frameworks such as the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to address these disparities. The discussion underscores the benefits of embedding SEL into school curricula to promote well-being, reduce behavioral issues, and bridge gaps in mental health services for historically underserved populations.