4 Ways Schools can Support Student Mental Health

May 1, 2023
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On February 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released their Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) report. Based on data collected every two years, this survey provides insight into key health behaviors and experiences that impact students’ wellbeing and includes data trends related to mental health and youth suicide.

This report is particularly noteworthy because its data was collected in fall of 2021, making it the first such report to include data related to the impact of Covid-19. It also includes trends showing concerning data when it comes particularly to the wellness and safety of our female students as well as that of LGBTQ+ students.

Analyzing the CDC's findings on student mental health

The ten-year trend data paints a deeply concerning picture regarding students experiencing feelings of hopelessness or persistent sadness, with male students increasing by 8% and female students by 21%. Even more concerning, the percentage of students who seriously considered suicide increased by 6% over the last ten years—with an increase of 11% for female students—and the CDC shows similar increases in students planning or attempting suicide.

Female students are nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide as their male counterparts according to 2021 data, and the percentage of LGBQ+ students who attempted suicide more than doubles that of the overall student group.

With data trends such as the above painting such a bleak picture, May’s Mental Health Awareness Month couldn’t be more important of an opportunity to talk about—and learn about—recognizing and supporting students with mental health needs.

Common behaviors a student may exhibit if they experienced or are experiencing a traumatic event can vary by age. For example:

Addressing children's mental health in schools

Schools play an important role in supporting the wellbeing of students, but it’s not without its challenges. There are barriers preventing schools from effectively addressing children’s mental health, such as a reluctance to discuss concerns due to the stigma around mental health or limitations on access to support due to limited resources, including funding and staffing.

Creating a supportive and inclusive environment requires the members of the school community to work together in supporting their students. Developing social-emotional learning programs and school-based mental health services provide structured support and education, but informal opportunities exist, too.

Giving all school personnel—such as SROs, custodians, and bus drivers—the opportunity to not only develop positive relationships with students, but also to easily communicate when they have concerns about a student’s wellbeing will strengthen your school’s safety net around each student.

Strategies for Improving Student Wellbeing

Normalizing Mental Health Discussions

One way that schools can combat the stigma surrounding mental health is by normalizing discussions about mental health and mental illness. Activities such as classroom discussions, school-wide events, and presentations by mental health professionals create opportunities to openly discuss mental health, reduce stigma, and encourage students to seek support when they need it.

Providing Mental Health Services

Many schools are limited by their resources, but there are still steps that they can take to provide services to students. Partnering with community mental health providers, using telehealth services, or investing in school-based mental health services can help ensure that students have easy access to the support they need.

Investing in Staff Training

Including professional development workshops and ongoing training for teachers, counselors, and other staff members provides staff with the knowledge and skills they need to recognize and support students with mental health issues—enabling them to help support their students’ needs.

Fostering a Culture of Support

Finally, schools can work to create a culture of support that encourages students to seek help when they need it. Creating a peer mentoring program, establishing support groups for students, or working to create a positive school climate can help students feel comfortable seeking help when they need it—and help them feel that their wellbeing is valued and prioritized within the school community.

Supporting students by working together

Addressing children’s mental health in schools requires a concerted effort from school staff, administrators, and community partners. By working together to normalize mental health discussions, provide mental health services, invest in staff training, and foster a culture of support, schools can help to ensure that all students have the support they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

For more information on how Raptor’s patented StudentSafe™ technology can help you support your students, schedule a demo.