Preventing Tragedy: The Role of School-Based Mental Health Professionals in Mitigating School Shootings

Date Presented

Spring 4-16-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Criminology

First Advisor

Dr. Kenneth Wagner

Second Advisor

Dr. Elizabeth Sharrett

Third Advisor

Dr. Jeremy Langett

Abstract

School shootings remain a critical concern in the United States, demonstrating the need for research into preventative measures within educational settings. With this in mind, the present study explores how the ratio of school psychologists and school counselors to students may affect school shootings, and if understanding these ratios can provide clarity on any inadequacies. It reviews the uses of mental health professionals in schools and the growing need for their services, while also highlighting how the use of crisis communication can be implemented into their skillset in order to reduce violence seen in adolescents before, during, and after crises occur. This review synthesizes findings from an analysis of national datasets on states’ ratios of school psychologists and counselors to students and the number of school shootings per state. By running univariate analyses on these variables, the findings show negative correlations and statistical significance between them. These results demonstrate a finding suggesting that if the ratio of students per school psychologist and counselor increases, the number of school shootings by state decreases, and vice versa. The implications of this paper highlight the need for more properly licensed mental health professionals in schools in order to mitigate school shootings.

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