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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 student 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.
Schools provide an ideal setting for implementing interventions that promote healthy behaviors and prevent risk behaviors—and identifying students in need of support earlier is key to reducing students’ exposure to adverse experiences and providing the support they need to cope and heal.
Identifying and documenting students in crisis
Early identification of risk factors and warning signs can help to prevent problems from escalating. This can help improve student outcomes by making sure they receive access to necessary support, including earlier access to mental health services or other interventions. Further, it can help reduce stigma and increase the likelihood of students asking for help when they need it.
Make sure your staff—including non-educational team members such as custodians, bus drivers, and service personnel—are trained to recognize the subtle signs a student is in distress. For example, this might include the following:
To ensure your students receive the support they need to be successful, provide your school’s personnel with the ability to quickly document concerns—and having those observations available in one location for your counseling and threat response team to review is pivotal.
StudentSafe™ is the first-of-its-kind platform to help schools recognize, document, support and manage the wellbeing of individual students. The hallmark of Raptor’s patented technology is the emphasis on cataloging low-level concerns so your teams can see a student in need of support at the very earliest signs of distress. Now all the small pauses and quick mental notes your staff makes in concern for a student can be easily entered into a single secure platform where your trained teams are able to see a picture forming of a student who may need help.
Implementing school-based interventions
Here are some examples of school-based interventions that have been implemented based on the findings of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey:
Education-based initiatives
Providing education about mental health and wellness can help to reduce stigma, increase awareness and understanding of mental health issues, and promote mental health literacy.
Social-emotional learning (SEL) programs can improve academic achievement, reduce problem behaviors, and promote positive social and emotional development by teaching students skills such as:
- Self-awareness,
- Self-management,
- Social awareness,
- Relationship skills, and
- Responsible decision-making.
Peer-led interventions have also been shown to be effective in promoting healthy behaviors among youth and increasing student connectedness.
Changing the school culture and environment
Implementing policies that promote healthy behaviors and discourage risk behaviors can help cultivate a culture of wellbeing in your schools. In addition to incorporating mental health education into the curriculum, strengthen your school’s culture of support and wellbeing by:
- Providing resources and information to students and families,
- Offering staff training on mental health topics,
- Developing policies that promote mental health breaks—and allow students to take mental health days,
- Provide additional accommodations for students with mental health conditions,
- Promote connectedness by fostering positive relationships between students and staff,
- Create safe walking and biking routes on campus to encourage physical activity as an option to de-stress, and
- Provide access to mental health services, such as counseling, therapy, and support groups, to help students cope with stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.
Supporting Student Wellbeing with StudentSafe
School-based interventions can be an effective way to promote healthy behaviors and prevent risk behaviors among youth. By incorporating evidence-based strategies into school policies and programs, we can create a supportive environment that promotes healthy behaviors and reduces the risk of negative health outcomes.
Empower your staff with the tools they need to support student success. Download our Guide to K-12 Student Wellbeing.
Related Resources
Guide to K-12 Student Wellbeing
Strategies to Recognize, Document, and Support Students in Distress
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