(CBS DETROIT) – As threats of violence against schools continue to disrupt classes , mental health professionals in schools are busier than ever. They have to perform a growing number of threat assessments, with fewer qualified professionals.
“It is difficult because it takes time. We have to be very intentional, right? And we cannot leave any stone unturned,” said Lauren Mangus, licensed psychologist and president of the Michigan Association of School Psychologists .
She said student threats have evolved, with the rise of social media and the increase in gun violence.
“Whether the threats are credible or not we have to investigate all of them,” Mangus said. “We have to really differentiate between making a threat and posing a threat.”
She said school mental health professionals have behavioral threat assessments for students of all ages, but their resources are stretched thin.
“Huge shortage in the state of Michigan,” she said “The recommended ratio is one school psychologist for 500 students. And in the state of Michigan, we’re beyond 1,200 1,300 a lot of times.”