Healing A Broken Mental Health System: Sara Stockwell Of Battelle for Kids On 5 Things That Can Be Done To Fix Our Broken Mental Health System
An Interview With Stephanie Greer
Secondary trauma and burnout are real, and they are taking a significant toll on our mental health professionals. Just as we are witnessing high rates of turnover in education, mental health providers are also leaving the field in alarming numbers. The mental health workforce turnover rate has reached nearly 30%, while 93% of workers have experienced burnout.
The current state of the mental health system is a conversation that echoes in the halls of policy-making, the corners of social advocacy, and within the private struggles of individuals and families. As we continue to witness an unprecedented need for robust mental health support, the shortcomings of the existing system become more glaring. It is within this backdrop that we seek the insight of those who are at the forefront of behavioral health. In this interview series, we are talking to behavioral health leaders, policymakers, mental health practitioners, advocates, and reformers to share their perspectives on healing our broken mental health system. As a part of this interview series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Sara Stockwell, Senior Director at Battelle for Kids.
Sara Stockwell, Ed.S. has more than 20 years of experience in public education and mental health advocacy. Having served as a Director of Student Services and Well-Being, Executive Director of Pupil Services, and School Psychologist, as well as holding an independent School Psychologist license through the Ohio Board of Psychology, Sara offers a unique perspective on mental health in education. As the leader of the Well-Being Labs at Battelle for Kids, Sara specializes in curating research and facilitating professional learning on critical topics such as hope, resilience, well-being, and trauma-responsive practices in education, with the goal of fostering environments where both youth and adults can thrive.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your background and your childhood backstory?
I am honored to speak about such an important topic. From the outside looking in, I was often smiling as a child — even receiving the “Best Smile” award from my gymnastics coach when I was in elementary school. But there was more to my story.
My parents were teenagers when I was born. It goes without saying that raising a child when you are a child isn’t easy, so I know they did their best with what they had at the time. My parents divorced when I was young, and I spent time bouncing back and forth, living with each of them on and off. At times, other family members had to step in and take me in when needed. It often felt like a revolving door of people coming in and out of my life.
This continual state of instability led me to attend 11 different schools, including getting kicked out of high school twice for not living in the district. I was more than familiar with the term “evicted” as early as I can remember.
Despite all the chaos around me (what others may quickly label as dysfunction), I still experienced joy. We laughed, we listened to music, we played cards, we celebrated, and we loved.
But like many young people today who experience Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the compounding obstacles and traumas I faced as an adolescent added up.
I struggled with anxiety and panic attacks that were unbearable at times and led to thoughts of suicide. I battled symptoms of OCD that consumed hours of my day, often feeling imprisoned by my own brain in a silent struggle.
At 17, I had my first child. It was a moment that many might have seen as an insurmountable hurdle, but for me, it became a turning point. I knew I wanted more for my son, and I was determined to rewrite the narrative.
I was fortunate to discover the healing power of mental health counseling, which proved to be my lifeline. Counseling helped me grapple with my trauma, overcome my circumstances, and choose not to perpetuate the cycle I was stuck in.
I am proud to say that, despite what all the statistics told me about myself and my future, I graduated high school and went on to earn three college degrees. I have since dedicated my life and my career to helping others navigate their own struggles and challenges.
It is this lived experience that serves as my driving force and inspiration, offering lessons I can now look back on and use to serve others.
My mother and grandmother’s Southern roots equipped me with a stubbornness that I harnessed as determination and perseverance. My father showed me that hard work is one thing you can control. He taught me to keep showing up for myself and my future because you never know how it will repay you someday.
My grandparents gave me unconditional love, which always felt like home when I needed it the most. I can still smell their coffee brewing and the chime of the clock on their wall.
And over the years, the five men in my life — my husband and our four sons — served as my anchor and inspiration. If I was going to work hard for anything in my life, it was going to be them.
This is why I am here today. It’s why I became an educator. And it’s why I continue to dedicate my life to serving young people. In education, we have the incredible opportunity to create environments and cultures where every student can thrive — not just in academics but in life.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Well-being is not a destination; it’s a practice we cultivate every day in how we show up for ourselves and others.”
This was and continues to be relevant in my life. We often perceive mental health as something we need to “fix” in ourselves and others. What I have learned over the years is that healing is not linear and mental health and well-being is an ongoing practice. You don’t just arrive at some magical place where everything is perfect, and you’re 100% mentally healthy.
Life is a journey that is full of 1,000 joys and 1,000 sorrows. We have days where we can savor happiness, and other days where life will throw us an unexpected curveball. Despite the work I have put into my own well-being, I continue to learn new ways to take care of myself every day because my needs continue to evolve with life circumstances and age. Some days, I need what I call my 3 Ss — solitude, silence, and space. Other days, I lean into my 3 Cs — community, comfort, and conversation. Oh, and chocolate. Chocolate is definitely in there too.
The key is knowing that what works one day, one moment, or for one circumstance may not work for the next, and that’s okay. If we can remember this, we can approach ourselves and our situation with the grace and flexibility we all deserve because ultimately, how we show up for ourselves in those moments is what well-being is really about.
Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. It is often said that “the mental health system in America is broken.” What does that statement mean to you? From your perspective what is “broken” today?
I try to shy away from the words broken and fixed, but I certainly agree that our mental health system has significant room for growth and improvement. When people say it’s “broken,” I think they’re referring to the very real challenges within the system — things like long waitlists due to shortages of providers, stigma, inequities in access based on socioeconomic status or zip code, and a primarily deficit-based model.
The most recent State of Mental Health in America Report 2024 indicates that more than 122 million people live in a mental health workforce shortage area, with only 27% of their mental health care needs being met. That means nearly 88 million people are not receiving the care they deserve in order to heal, recover and thrive.
Having worked in education for many years overseeing the well-being of our young people, and now collaborating with communities nationwide, I’ve seen firsthand how these challenges create barriers that leave many, particularly our most vulnerable populations, without the support they need.
We can also look at HOW we are supporting individuals. While crisis support is necessary, the deficit-based, reactive model is not working for us. It’s like waiting for a heart attack to occur before addressing your heart health. We know that mental health is just as important as physical health because studies show that untreated mental health conditions can shorten life expectancy by 10–20 years. Yet we often don’t intervene until someone reaches a point of crisis. This approach neglects what we know about prevention and early intervention, which are a priority if we are aiming for long-term well-being and better outcomes overall.
What about any bright spots? Do you think there are any elements that we get right in today’s world that we wouldn’t want to reverse unintentionally?
Thank you for asking this question because we often focus on what is going wrong and forget to build upon what is going right. I think a bright spot worth noting is the growing mental health literacy across schools, families, and communities. More schools are working to integrate mental health education for students and staff alike. The rise in mental health literacy programs in businesses, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations is also encouraging. These efforts not only equip individuals with healthy coping mechanisms but empower them to recognize when they or someone they know may need support, and to provide the necessary resources.
Most importantly, a bright spot is exactly what we are doing here today in this article — talking openly about mental health. Youth today are leading the way, often sharing their stories and supporting one another in their journeys. Celebrities, athletes, and musicians are also stepping up to reduce stigma by being open about their own mental health challenges. Organizations have developed reporting tools that provide us with valuable information about the state of mental health in this country. Mental health professionals continue to do research and evolve our expertise in the field. This is all growth. As the saying goes, “Knowledge is power,” and by educating ourselves and others about mental health, we are actively dismantling the stigma and building a culture of support. We are creating avenues for help. If that’s not a bright spot, I don’t know what is.
In your opinion, what are the 5 most impactful things that could help heal the broken mental health system? These could be on any level including training, workforce, policy, culture, equity etc.
1. Provide Equitable Access through Partnerships
Zip code, socioeconomic status, and education level should not be differentiators in the quality of care a student receives. Regardless of these factors, every community has a school. Children spend more time in school than in their homes, making schools a critical partner in addressing the mental health crisis.
Research shows that 1 in 6 youth will experience a mental health condition at some point, and 50% of all lifetime mental health conditions begin before age 14. While schools alone can’t solve this issue, they certainly have a vital role to play.
During my time as Executive Director of Student Services and Well-being, we implemented policies that allowed students to receive mental health services during the school day. While this approach could be controversial, it was introduced at the request of parents, with careful consideration given to the need for these services and how we could minimize academic disruption.
This partnership made a significant impact, especially for students who might otherwise have been unable to access care due to transportation barriers, after-school jobs, or caregiving responsibilities at home. These types of partnerships across community agencies open up the possibility for access, but they do require intentional design and funding.
2. Support Our Mental Health Professionals
Secondary trauma and burnout are real, and they are taking a significant toll on our mental health professionals. Just as we are witnessing high rates of turnover in education, mental health providers are also leaving the field in alarming numbers. The mental health workforce turnover rate has reached nearly 30%, while 93% of workers have experienced burnout.
This turnover is not just a concern for those receiving care, but also for the field itself. As mental health professionals leave, we are losing valuable expertise and continuity of care, while seeing wait times grow. In our schools, we face a national shortage of school psychologists, and the caseloads of school counselors are nearly untenable. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommends a counselor to student ratio of 1:250, yet many schools are operating with ratios much higher than that, sometimes 1:500 or even 1:700.
If we want to ensure the well-being of our communities, we must start by valuing and supporting those who care for our most precious commodity, our minds. By looking at international approaches that have been successful around compensation, benefits, loan forgiveness, and wellness programs, our system could improve the recruitment, support, and retention of these professionals. The way to ensure that our youth receive the care they need is to ensure the professionals providing that care are supported in meaningful ways.
3. Shift Our Modeling
Mental health is just as important as physical health, and a shift in how we view and address it can transform the well-being of both youth and adults. We know that students who receive early support are more likely to thrive academically and emotionally, just as adults who prioritize mental health care experience better overall outcomes in work and life.
By moving from a reactive to a proactive model, we can focus on prevention and early intervention. This means integrating mental health and well-being into our education and healthcare systems, supporting individuals during vulnerable times such as school transitions, job changes, or after trauma.
To make this change, policy adjustments are needed to fund preventive services, embed mental health professionals in schools and communities, and ensure that mental health care is as accessible and prioritized as physical care. Investing in these efforts will not only reduce long-term mental health challenges but foster healthier, more resilient communities.
4. Integrate a Systems Approach to Mental Health Education
While we’ve made significant strides in mental health literacy, there’s still much work to be done. The current approach is often fragmented, with pockets of great work happening but without a cohesive system. A systems approach across all human service agencies — schools, healthcare systems, law enforcement, governmental agencies, community organizations, and families — would ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to recognizing, responding to, and supporting mental health needs.
5. Stay Relevant
We have an entire generation of young people who live on technology — it’s how they connect, seek resources, and think. While we are actively finding ways to reduce screen time for our youth, we can leverage it to supplement our approaches to mental health and align with youth’s digital-first mindset.
Innovations like virtual reality tools for mindfulness or exposure therapy, AI-powered chatbots offering cognitive-behavioral strategies, and gamified mental health apps are already evolving. These solutions meet young people where they are, providing accessible, relatable, and often immediate support. By embracing these tools and continuing to fund innovative new ideas, we can create a mental health system that stays relevant when the next wave of change and technology arrives.
If all of the items on your list were magically implemented tomorrow what change might we see in the world? What are the signs (big and small) that would show us that the system is being healed?
We would begin to see a world where mental health is treated with the same urgency and care as physical health. Organizations would no longer be isolated in their efforts but would partner with one another to ensure every person has access to the support they need. Mental health professionals would be supported and valued, reducing burnout and turnover, and ensuring consistent, quality care. We would see fewer youth and adults in crisis, equipped with the skills and resources to navigate life’s challenges.
The signs of healing would be everywhere: shorter wait times, less stigma, a growing workforce of mental health professionals, and a society where asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.
At the end of the day, I think it would create a world where people feel seen for who they truly are, strengths, struggles, and all, without the fear of being judged. We’d be in a place where taking care of your mental health is as natural as taking care of your body. And what a beautiful place that would be.
What is a project you or others are working on today that gives you hope? How can our readers learn more about this work?
At Battelle for Kids, we are fortunate to have an entire sector of our organization committed to this work through our Well-Being Lab. It is fitting that this is what gives me hope, because the work is deeply rooted in the science of hope and resilience. I have the honor of collaborating with schools and organizations to foster hopeful and resilient environments where everyone can thrive. What gives me hope about this work is knowing we’re not just talking about well-being — we are making it happen. And we are making it happen for young people who may not have had access to these strategies, tools, and resources otherwise. Hope isn’t a solo journey — it’s something we build and cultivate together, especially in challenging times. And I am fortunate to witness this transformative work every single day.
Readers can learn more about our work at our Well-Being Lab hub: bfk.org/how-we-help/well-being-bfk/
How do you see technology shaping the future of mental health care and its accessibility?
Technology definitely has the potential to be a powerful tool, particularly with its ability to provide accessible, real-time support. From my own personal experience with OCD as well as youth I’ve worked with, I know that it’s not as simple as saying, “Hey brain, let’s put that on pause until next week when I see my counselor.” We can now leverage technology to provide in-the-moment support when and where people need it most.
It also enables us to support individuals within the very environment where the issue is occurring. In schools, we have seen a steady increase in depression, suicide ideation, and anxiety. Imagine a student whose anxiety is interfering with their ability to attend or engage in class, and they can now access a calming app right then and there. This can be transformative as the student builds the coping skills that help them manage stress before it escalates. And I would be remiss not to mention the benefits to telehealth because it has the potential to address some of the barriers to quality care we discussed earlier. Provider shortages and wait lists are addressed when individuals can receive help via their phone or computer, wherever they are. Working professionals can access services without leaving their desk, reducing burnout and stress. Couples and families can receive support collectively without schedules being a limitation.
In your view, how do social factors like poverty, education, and culture affect mental health care and its effectiveness?
Answered above. Didn’t want to be redundant.
In light of the growing mental health crisis among young people, what innovative approaches or interventions have proven most successful for children and adolescents?
Great question. The exciting thing about this field is that we are constantly learning. We have some tried-and-true approaches in schools such as trauma-responsive practices, resilience training, restorative and alternative discipline methods, mindfulness programming, and the like. There are also some new innovative approaches being explored to meet the mental health needs of our youth.
Using our voice is incredibly powerful. When we empower students to take the lead, we see innovative solutions emerge. Some schools are engaging in mental health innovation labs where students design and implement wellness initiatives like peer support apps, awareness campaigns, or mentorship programs. It’s about giving them ownership of mental health challenges, which not only builds their confidence but also fosters meaningful, relevant solutions that resonate with their peers.
I have also seen wellness rooms provide students with a calm space to decompress. They learn to manage stress by using mindfulness techniques, wellness apps, sensory tools, or virtual counselor access. These rooms prioritize emotional well-being while also teaching students self-advocacy and emotional regulation. Students learn to identify their needs and choose strategies that work best for them, helping them to build lifelong skills for managing stress and fostering resilience.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them. 😊
Wow, this is a tough question because there are so many great choices! I’d have to say either Tara Brach or Jack Kornfield. I’ve been following and practicing their work for many years. Both are licensed psychologists who are also teachers of mindfulness, compassion, and the integration of healing into daily practices. Their approach highlights the importance of staying open, and not getting too rigidly focused on one way of thinking or doing things. There are so many fields to draw from — education, psychology, neuroscience, health and medicine — to truly serve ourselves and others in the most holistic way possible. After all, we’re wonderfully complex humans!
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Check out our well-being website at bfk.org/how-we-help/well-being-bfk/
You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/battelleforkids/
Sara Stockwell — www.linkedin.com/in/sarastockwell278
Sara Stockwell Professional Instagram @sara_stockwell
Thank you for your time and thoughtful answers. I know many people will gain so much from hearing this.
About The Interviewer: Stephanie Greer, PhD is the Co-founder and CEO of Akin Mental Health — a company dedicated to guiding families on their journey supporting a loved one with mental health challenges like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and severe depression. Stephanie is passionate about this topic from her own personal experience growing up with a mother who struggled with bipolar 1 disorder and found a path forward to overcome the obstacles and live well. Stephanie’s professional experience includes a doctorate in neuroscience as well as design research roles at Hopelab and Apple. Stephanie brings this personal passion together with her world-class science and technology background to support families across the US in their personal journeys supporting loved ones with mental illness. To learn more about Akin Mental Health and join our community, visit us at akinmh.com.
Healing A Broken Mental Health System: Sara Stockwell Of Battelle for Kids On 5 Things That Can Be… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.