To Combat the Student Mental Health Crisis, Build a Community of Support

Unfortunately, the conversation surrounding the nation’s youth mental health crisis continues. According to the CDC, more than 40% of high school students have felt so sad or hopeless that they could not engage in their regular activities for at least two weeks during the previous year—a possible indication of the experience of depressive symptoms. There has also been a significant increases in the percentage of youth who seriously considered suicide, made a suicide plan, and attempted suicide.

Fortunately, professionals and educators have stepped up, offering essential information and support to improve student well-being. As a psychologist who works with children, caregivers, and educators, I have found there are strategic ways to build a school community that enables students to feel supported and flourish both academically and socially. It all starts with open communication.

Engaging the Community

The first step to building a positive school environment is to engage your community, especially parents and caregivers. An app that makes it simple for students, parents, teachers, and staff to report safety concerns about students immediately, directly from their smartphones. Simplifying reporting helps students get the timely support they need, makes parents feel that their voice is being heard, and allows school leaders to assess and document any potential threats.

School counselors play an essential role in creating a positive school environment, but with the current student to counselor ratio at 408:1, district leaders can also collaborate with community partners to refer out students who need additional care above and beyond what a school counselor might be able to provide. These partners might include community mental health centers or children’s hospitals. Many districts (such as Boone County, Kentucky) have invested in family resource centers offering services from food support to educational support that a counselor might not be equipped to handle. These centers address many different needs because they are staffed by the district but are directed to the community and involved in the community.

Normalizing Conversations about Mental Health

Creating an inclusive environment where all students are welcomed and feel supported also requires districts to normalize the conversation about mental health struggles. A positive first step is to include appropriate mental health professionals as a key part of the team. To prepare educators and families to support students and promote school safety as well, have training in place such as PublicSchoolWORKS’ “De-Escalation Strategies Modules,” which teach:

• Preventing Behavior Escalation in Schools;
• Verbal De-Escalation Techniques; and
• Conflict De-Escalation Techniques.

Other types of useful training include bullying prevention, as well as depression awareness and suicide prevention. Teachers often benefit from specific training in these areas to address these key concerns. By offering that training, districts create a more supportive educational environment where students can get help from a variety of people.

Behavioral Intervention Tools and Techniques

At the school level, there are a number of best practices and tools that can help improve overall mental health and help students get the assistance they need.

• Begin climate surveys within the first 45 days of school and send them out once or twice a year, based on grade level. Climate surveys measure the overall school environment, identify specific needs, set goals, and track progress toward improvement. They can also help track the impact of major events on the school community.
• Teach healthy coping schools in the classroom, including deep breathing techniques, which can build resiliency and help students learn how to manage stress.
• Promote and encourage body awareness by taking time to have students move their bodies. Incorporate strategies that are appropriate for a wide range of athletic levels and abilities.
• Offer classroom tools like take-a-break corners and emotional inventories.
• Offering QPR training: Question, Persuade, and Refer are the three steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.

Individual classroom teachers can incorporate a number of strategies that offer mental health support.

• Modeling healthy relationships;
• Laying out clear expectations;
• Providing opportunities for breaks as needed;
• Offering alternative seating arrangements; and
• Supplying self-regulation tool kits.

By providing these simple tools in every classroom, teachers can substantially improve mental health awareness and support, allowing students to express their needs and learn how to manage stress, depression, and anxiety more effectively.

Districts across the country are becoming more proactive in implementing engaging new mental health training programs and offering a range of practical resources. When educators, families, and the community focus on building a community of support, students feel secure in the knowledge that, even when they feel their lowest, someone is there to help.

Dr. Allison Blackburn is an assistant professor of pediatrics and a behavioral psychologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.