Geospatial disparities in adolescent mental health resources: school- and community-level evidence from Travis County, Texas.
Adolescents in the United States face growing mental health challenges, with nearly one in three high school students reporting poor mental health in the past 30 days. Schools increasingly serve as key access points for mental health care. However, geographic disparities in access to school-based mental health services remain underexplored.
This study examines the spatial distribution of adolescent mental health resources in Travis County, Texas, and evaluates how school- and community-level factors are associated with the presence of on-site school social workers.
School locations, enrollment data, and the presence of on-site social workers were mapped and analyzed alongside ZIP Code Tabulation Area-level indicators of community vulnerability using ArcGIS Pro. Additionally, data from public high school districts, community mental health clinics, and social determinants of health indicators were incorporated for geospatial analysis through spatial regression modeling in R.
Many high schools were located more than two miles from a free or low-cost mental health clinic, especially in the eastern regions of the county. Among 24 Travis County high schools, only 29% had on-site social workers. Spatial regression results showed that schools located in communities with higher poverty, unemployment, and limited English proficiency were significantly less likely to have an on-site social worker (p < 0.05). In contrast, schools in areas with lower education levels, more residents with disabilities, and high housing cost burdens were more likely to have on-site social workers (p < 0.05).
Geospatial disparities in mental health service access represent an important challenge for high school students in Travis County. Public resources, primarily from local stakeholders, should be directed toward high school students in these communities. School-based social workers and telehealth partnerships help address some of these gaps. The findings emphasize the importance of equity-focused planning to provide accessible, school-centered mental health services.
This study examines the spatial distribution of adolescent mental health resources in Travis County, Texas, and evaluates how school- and community-level factors are associated with the presence of on-site school social workers.
School locations, enrollment data, and the presence of on-site social workers were mapped and analyzed alongside ZIP Code Tabulation Area-level indicators of community vulnerability using ArcGIS Pro. Additionally, data from public high school districts, community mental health clinics, and social determinants of health indicators were incorporated for geospatial analysis through spatial regression modeling in R.
Many high schools were located more than two miles from a free or low-cost mental health clinic, especially in the eastern regions of the county. Among 24 Travis County high schools, only 29% had on-site social workers. Spatial regression results showed that schools located in communities with higher poverty, unemployment, and limited English proficiency were significantly less likely to have an on-site social worker (p < 0.05). In contrast, schools in areas with lower education levels, more residents with disabilities, and high housing cost burdens were more likely to have on-site social workers (p < 0.05).
Geospatial disparities in mental health service access represent an important challenge for high school students in Travis County. Public resources, primarily from local stakeholders, should be directed toward high school students in these communities. School-based social workers and telehealth partnerships help address some of these gaps. The findings emphasize the importance of equity-focused planning to provide accessible, school-centered mental health services.