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As you probably know by now a teacher’s job is not just to teach, we do so much more! By clicking on this post, you proved just that. And while it is not our job to diagnose or treat a student’s mental health issue, it is our job to be aware of the state of our students’ mental health. That way we can get a student the help that s/he needs when the student needs it.
Furthermore, the mental health of our students affects how they learn. In fact, students may have difficulty paying attention, lack motivation, struggle with problem solving, have difficulty retaining information, and more (Ambrosio, 2024). And since we want our students to be the best learners they can be, we have to take the time to support student mental health as well. That is why in this post I will be sharing five ways that you can support student mental health in your classroom starting today!
Ways to Support Student Mental Health
1. Be observant. Look for signs that a student may be struggling with a mental health issue and be aware of any changes in student behavior over time. Take a look at this article, “Top 5 mental health challenges facing K-12 students” from Hazel Health for a list of signs to watch for. You may even want to start a log for any students with recurring signs, noting the day, time, and sign/s noticed. That way you will have evidence as to why you think this student may need more support that can be shared with a parent/guardian or appropriate school personnel.
2. Give students a daily opportunity to share how they feel. This can be as simple as having a feelings check-in posted in the room for students to mark how they’re feeling when they come in. For more privacy, you could do this with the use of a Google form, or in a daily journal where the student has the option to show only you, if the student wants to. This promotes self-awareness in your students and enables them to name their feelings.
3. Provide a safe place. Create a space in your classroom where students can go who need a break. Be sure to clearly set the expectations for using the safe place at the beginning of the year, so students are less likely to take advantage of the space as an escape from completing work. Your safe place could include items like a bean bag chair, a Squishmallow, tools to use for self-regulation, and, possibly, a timer.
4. Create a culture of caring in your classroom. This is one that has to be done over time and it starts on the first day of school. When you welcome students into the classroom and start building relationships with them and between them you have already begun. Your relationship with your students is just as important as the relationships that form between classmates. In fact, that is what contributes to a feeling of belonging, which is essential for maintaining positive mental health. Check out more on building relationships in my posts Building a Caring Classroom Community: How and Why Building Relationships is Important and Keep Relationships Growing Throughout the Year.
5. Teach problem solving and coping skills. This could be part of a SEL curriculum that you are already using in your classroom. If you do not already have one, I have a post An Overview of 4 SEL Curriculums to get you started. If you are uncomfortable or feel unqualified for teaching these skills, reach out to your school’s guidance counselor. In fact, many schools have programs in place for the guidance counselor to teach these types of skills to students already.
Why Student Mental Health Challenges are on the Rise
Unfortunately there has been an increase in student mental health challenges in the past few years. According to the American Psychological Association, COVID-19 excaberated conditions that were already present before the pandemic started. Early puberty, bullying, increased use of social media, and families in poverty are all factors that have contributed to the rise in mental health challenges (Abrams, 2023).
What To Do When You Notice a Student Needs Help
It’s important to remember that just because a student is having a difficult time doesn’t mean a student has a mental health disorder. The student may just need some extra support for a period of time to help them solve a problem, gain some coping skills, or build self-esteem.
The first thing you can do is to talk to the student. Ask open-ended questions and listen to what the student has to say. You may find that what the student is experiencing is something you can help with.
If not, the next step would be to talk to the parents. Contact the parents and tell them about what you have been noticing. Ask the parents if they have noticed anything or have concerns. You never know, the parents may be on top of it already.
If not, you could suggest that you could refer their child to the guidance counselor or mental health specialist at the school for more support. If the parents agree, reach out to the guidance counselor following your school’s guidelines for referring a student.
After that, the student will most likely begin seeing the guidance counselor for individual sessions or join a small group of students with similar needs. Be sure to check in periodically to see how it is going and if there is anything you could do in the classroom to help.
Conclusion
During the school year, your students spend more time with you than with their families. That makes you an invaluable resource for spotting students who are struggling and may need some extra support. It, also, puts you in a place where you can help your struggling students get back on track, so academic learning can take place.
Thankfully, with already busy schedules, supporting student mental health doesn’t have to take too much time out of your day. In fact, most of how you support student mental health is front-end work that your students will reap the benefits from all year long!