Supporting Student Mental Health: Key Takeaways From School and District Staff

Positive peer relationships and trusted teachers can serve as a safety net for students struggling with mental health concerns. Schools are more than just academic institutions; they are communities of support where students form connections with caring adults and peers. These professionals are trained to identify and address mental health issues, offering tailored interventions that cater to the unique needs of each student. Despite these potential obstacles, the benefits of integrating mental health support into educational systems far outweigh these challenges, and there is reason to be optimistic about the transformative potential of these initiatives. First, implementing mental health education into core curricula and training educators requires significant financial and time resources. The increase in mental health problems among students is likely due to a combination of factors including increased awareness, evolving stressors, societal changes, inadequate resources, persistent stigma, the role of technology, and inequality.

Embedding Mental Health Education in Curriculum

The Appendix includes maps of states that have implemented laws related to mental health literacy and mental health days of excused absences. These programs receive funding through specific federal grants and provisions of ESSA. States that have implemented laws requiring these programs should repeal them or rigorously evaluate their effectiveness; other states should not pursue them.

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• Schools can deliver mental health services or resources to students who need them most.
• Additionally, schools should actively seek partnerships with local community organizations and policymakers to ensure a broad-based and effective mental health support system.
• Furthermore, integrating pertinent topics such as climate change awareness, conflict resolution, and financial literacy will help equip students with an understanding of global stressors and methods to manage their impact on mental health.
• Schools can create resilience by supporting peer mentorship programs, facilitating group projects that require collaborative problem-solving, and celebrating achievements big and small.

Workshops and resources can be provided to help parents recognize signs of mental distress and https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/02/18/when-strength-resilience-and-blackgirlmagic-is-a-burden/ support their children effectively. Open lines of communication can help students feel safer and more supported. Perhaps most importantly, schools should strive to foster a supportive environment. School and district staff described approaches they use to garner buy-in from key parties in many roles, including students and caregivers. Researchers from PolicyLab have worked closely with local school districts on several studies of Tier I and Tier II mental health programs and other initiatives.

After students calculate whether she has enough to pay everyone back, they are made to watch a video of a single mother struggling to make ends meet and are asked about how the video made them feel. Teachers and counselors anonymously describe students frequently being pulled out of class for counseling sessions. The shifts in mental health and education policy are, perhaps inconspicuously, fundamental. For example, justice-involved youth who receive certain types of intensive mental health intervention might be more likely to complete high school.

According to one model, every school should have one social worker for every 250 students. Experts say schools could play a role in identifying students with problems and helping them succeed. The basic steps involve engaging parents and training staff about mental health awareness to make a profound difference in students’ lives. While physical bullying in schools is relatively prevalent, cyberbullying is becoming quite worrying as it gains traction, particularly among high school students. Increased parental involvement leads to better emotional regulation, enhanced academic performance, and overall improved well-being for students. In response, organizations such as the CDC and others have called for improved equity in access to school-based mental health resources to address these disparities.