The Causal Impact of Mental Health Disorder Treatment on Recorded Student Offenses: An Investigation of Effect Modifiers and Limitations

This study investigates the causal effect of providing mental health disorder treatment to students on the total number of recorded offenses within schools. Recorded offenses encompass incidents involving firearms/explosives, weapons, illegal drugs, alcohol, and attacks/fights. Using a survey-weighted generalized linear model and controlling for school characteristics, the analysis finds a marginally significant positive association between mental health treatment and disciplinary incidents. On average, schools offering treatment had 1.87 more students involved in recorded offenses compared to those without treatment, though the effect is only marginally statistically significant (p-value = 0.067).