The following letter to the editor appeared September 15, 2025, in The Washington Postopens in new window.
In their September 11 Thursday Opinion commentary, “Physical health should come before mental health at schoolopens in new window,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. argued against annual school-based mental health screenings, suggesting that such efforts turn the normal ups and downs of childhood into lasting stigma. But their argument missed a crucial point: Understanding and supporting mental health is not about labeling children; it’s about helping them thrive.
No one questions the value of annual physical checkups for children. Pediatricians monitor growth, vision, hearing and overall health to catch issues early and intervene before they become serious. Why should mental health be treated any differently? Early identification of emotional or behavioral challenges allows for small, supportive interventions—which are often behavioral, not medical—that can prevent crises down the road.
Framing mental health care as something unnatural or intrusive does a disservice to the millions of childrenopens in new window who benefit from it every day. If we truly want all children to thrive, schools must be equipped to provide both healthy environments and the professional support kids need when they struggle. These are not competing solutions. They are complementary.
Mental health support doesn’t treat kids as though something is wrong with them. It helps them understand their feelings, build confidence and learn how to handle tough situations. Every child deserves that kind of support.
Lynn Bufka, PhD, is head of practice at the American Psychological Association.