- 20 % of youth aged 13-18 live with a mental health disorder
- 11% of youth have a mood disorder
- 10% of youth have a behavior or conduct disorder
- 8% of youth have an anxiety disorder
(National Alliance on Mental Illness , 2016)
Students at Higher Risk for Mental Health Issues
- Student’s with intellectual and developmental delays
- Students in racial and ethnic minority groups
- Students who identify as LGBTQ+
- Students from low-income households
- Students who come from rural areas
- Students from immigrant households
- Students involved in the child protection system or criminal justice system
Know the Warning Signs
Being able to identify when a student is struggling to provide early interventions is key.
Warning Signs in Younger Children
- Frequent tantrums
- Trouble making friends
- Frequent complaints of physical issues (i.e. headaches, stomach aches, etc.)
- Sudden poor academic performance
- Inability to concentrate
- Voicing constant fears or worries
- Sudden behavioral issues
- Personality changes
Warning Signs in Older Children/Teens
- Withdrawing from friends
- Engaging in risk-taking behaviors (i.e. substance use)
- Self-harming behaviors (i.e. cutting, refusal to eat or overeating)
- Passive or active thoughts of suicide (i.e. “I wish I was dead” or “I want to die”)
- Sudden poor academic performance
- Expressing feeling “out of control” of one’s mind and/or body
- Extreme mood swings (overly angry or high energy)
(National Insitute of Mental Health, 2023)
The Importance of Educators in Promoting Positive Student Mental Health
- Schools are a lot of student’s “safe space”. It is important to create safe environments where students can learn and thrive.
- Educators have the ability to connect students to safe peers and adults that they may not have access to outside of the school environment.
- Educators can help identify students who may be having mental health issues and connect them with school counselors/social workers who can provide support and resources.
- Promoting positive student mental health improves classroom behavior, school/family relationships, and peer relationships. These factors increase student learning success.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)
School Based Strategies for Addressing Student Mental Health
Strategy:
Increase Student’s Mental Health Literacy
Approach:
Educate your students on mental health and let them know that they are not alone.
Strategy:
Promote Mindfulness
Approach:
Dedicate time in the classroom for mindfulness activities both individual and group.
Strategy:
Promote Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Learning
Approach:
Teach social skills through SEL curriculum.
Strategy:
Promote relationships between students, staff, and families
Approach:
Provide classroom based activities to promote relationship building. Increase communication with student families regarding student well-being.
Strategy:
Provide student’s with basic psychosocial skills and training
Approach:
Promote mental health awareness and identify basic coping skills, “safe friends”, and “safe adults”.
Strategy:
Support staff well-being
Approach:
Take care of yourself and offer support to other educators. Educator mental health affects student mental health.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023)
