Who provides direct mental health services and interventions to students?

The school psychologist plays a critical role in providing direct mental health services and interventions to students. They are specifically trained to assess and address the mental and emotional needs of students, utilizing various therapeutic techniques and evidence-based practices. Their work often includes conducting psychological evaluations, developing intervention plans, providing counseling, and collaborating with teachers and parents to support a child's academic and social-emotional development.

While both teacher assistants and school counselors contribute to supporting students' well-being, their primary functions differ from those of school psychologists. Teacher assistants usually focus on providing instructional support under the guidance of a teacher rather than offering psychological services. School counselors do provide essential support for students' academic, career, and social-emotional needs, but their training is typically less specialized for the types of psychological assessments and interventions that school psychologists perform. Therefore, the school psychologist is the most appropriate choice for direct mental health services and interventions among the options given.