Multiple candidates at the Malden School Committee forum described student mental health as a growing crisis and said the district lacks sufficient counseling and social-work staff to meet demand.

"Honestly, hands down for me, the top issue would be the mental health crisis that we have going on with our students," said candidate Nicole Masalom, who described frequent school fights and difficulty accessing emergency and therapeutic services for teenagers. "We do not have enough social workers at our schools. We don't have enough resources."

Speakers said the shortage of in-school mental-health staff forces families to seek outside services, and sometimes to call police during acute incidents. Masalom also described difficulties obtaining placements and said state services such as the Department of Children and Families (DCF) are stretched, reducing options for families that need emergency interventions.

Other candidates agreed mental-health staffing and prevention are priorities that require both more funding and improved operational planning, including partnerships with community providers. Peter Piazza and Sharon Rose Iberg cited counseling and guidance support as services that improved funding could help restore or expand.

Why it matters: Candidates linked mental-health capacity to student safety, attendance and learning. They recommended increasing in-school supports, better access to referrals and exploring grant or partnership funding to expand counseling services.

No formal actions were taken at the forum; candidates urged voters to support funding and policy changes in the coming months.