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For Staff Who Support Students

How Can Teachers Support Students with their Mental Health Concerns?

The ability to recognize and respond to student mental health concerns is a crucial responsibility for teachers and can make a significant impact on their overall well-being.

Please consider some tools and tips shared by the University of San Diego - The Importance of Mental Health in Schools: A Guide for Educators to support students in your schools.

Build strong relationships between staff and students: When students feel safe with their teachers, counselors, coaches and other adults at school, they are more likely to ask for help when they need it.

Promote staff self care and well being: Educators can't pour from an empty cup. Encourage practices that support teacher's mental health, such as providing access to counseling services and other wellness resources.

Here are some additional strategies from the Council for Exceptional Children that can help educators to improve student mental health in schools:

Familiarize Yourself With Common Signs

Teachers should familiarize themselves with common mental health concerns and the signs that they could be emerging to identify students who may be struggling.

Common warning signs include significant behavior changes, withdrawal from social interactions, persistent sadness or irritability, difficulty concentrating, declining academic performance, and more.

Maintain Open Communication
Always do your best to foster a supportive and trusting relationship with your students. Encourage open communication by creating a safe, non-judgmental space where students feel comfortable expressing their feelings and concerns.

Regularly check in with your students and be attentive to any changes in their demeanor or behavior. Children might not be free to express themselves at home, so having a safe space at school can be life-changing.

Collaborate With Other School Professionals
As a teacher, it will be beneficial to establish a collaborative relationship with school counselors, psychologists, and other support staff to ensure a comprehensive approach to student well-being. They can provide valuable insights, assessments, and recommendations for students needing additional assistance.

Never hesitate to reach out to your support team. Even if you aren’t sure if a student is having a significant issue, other professionals will have additional insight and can lead you in the right direction.

Educate Yourself on Resources
Stay informed about emerging mental health resources and support services within your school or community.

Be prepared to provide students or parents and guardians with information and referrals to appropriate professionals or organizations offering specialized help.
SDUSD Mental Health and Wellness Referral Pathways to Onsite Resources or Refer to the How to Access Mental Health and Wellness Services Tab on the left of this website

Practice Empathy and Understanding

When students confide in you or exhibit signs of mental health concerns, responding with empathy and understanding is crucial. Listen actively, validate their experiences, and assure them that seeking help is a sign of strength. Offer support and reassurance that they are not alone in their struggles.

Remember: While teachers can play a vital role in recognizing and responding to student mental health concerns, they are not expected to diagnose or provide therapy. The goal is to create a caring and supportive environment that encourages students to seek help from trained professionals.

What Are Some of the Best Ways Teachers Can Create a Supportive Classroom Environment to Benefit Students?

Creating a supportive classroom environment is crucial for fostering positive learning experiences and promoting students’ overall well-being. Creating a safe and supportive space makes students more likely to confide in a teacher or licensed professional if they’re struggling.

Here are some strategies that can help educators recognize and respond to student mental health concerns:

Establish a Rapport - Build positive relationships with your students by genuinely showing interest, care, and respect for each individual. Go out of your way to get to know their interests and strengths.

Set Clear Expectations - Establish clear rules, routines, and guidelines for behavior and academic performance. Communicate these expectations consistently and reinforce positive behavior.

Recognize Varying Learning Styles - Offer a variety of instructional strategies and resources to cater to diverse learning styles and abilities. Differentiate instruction to meet individual needs, and provide timely feedback to encourage growth and improvement.

Foster a Growth Mindset - Encourage students to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and believe in their ability to grow and succeed. Emphasize effort, persistence, and resilience as essential components of learning.

Recognize and Celebrate Achievements - Acknowledge and celebrate the achievements, both academic and personal, of your students. Provide positive reinforcement, praise their efforts, and create a culture of appreciation.

Involve Parents and Guardians - Maintain open lines of communication with parents or guardians and regularly update them on student progress. Do your best to involve them in their child’s education through conferences, newsletters, or other forms of communication.

Promote Collaboration and Teamwork - Create opportunities for students to work together, collaborate on projects, and learn from one another. Foster a sense of community and teamwork within the classroom.

Make Yourself Available Outside of Class - Some students may feel more comfortable confiding in a teacher outside of class time. You can set up “office hours” or designate your room as a “drop-in” room, where students can use a resource whenever they need.

What are the Warning Signs to Look For?

Warning Signs of Mental Health Concerns

Knowing the warning signs and recognizing emerging mental health concerns is important to ensure that students are able to access supports when in need of help.

Here are MHA Signs and Symptoms of MH Concerns to look for:

Problems with concentration, memory or ability to think clearly
Changes in appetite
Feeling sad, empty, hopeless or worthless
Loss of interest in things that they used to enjoy
Excessive worry
Irritability or restlessness
Changes in sleep
Angry outbursts
Not wanting to be around people or take part in activities
Hearing or seeing things that other people don't
Extreme panic
Onset of new behaviors or rituals that are repeated
Mood swings or frequent shifts in energy
Changes in how they dress (ie. long pants and shirts in hot weather or hats all of a sudden could be signs of hiding signs of self injury like hair pulling or cutting)

10 Common Warning Signs in Teens and Young Adults

Warning Signs of Suicide

According to the American Pediatric Association, most youth who die by suicide show some Warning Signs and Behavioral Changes. Here are some of the many common warning signs to look for:

Talking about killing oneself, feeling hopeless, feeling like a burden or having no reason to live
Mood changes, including depression, anxiety and agitation
Behavioral changes:
- Increased substance use
- Withdrawing from activities
- Isolating from family and friends
- Sleeping too much or not enough
- Giving away prized possessions
- Irritability

If you or someone that you know is experiencing a psychiatric emergency, please dial 911 immediately.

If you or someone that you know is struggling emotionally, experiencing an issue with drugs or alcohol, or having a hard time, please call or text 988 to connect with the San Diego Access and Crisis Line.

Where Can I Learn More?

Mental Health First Aid at Work

Mental Health First Aid at Work is a workplace mental health training program that teaches participants how to notice and support an individual who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use concern or crisis and connect them with the appropriate employee resources. Mental Health First Aid at Work is a skills-based, experiential and evidence-based practice. To learn more, click here.

Supporting Student Wellness

Pie Chart The best way to support student mental health and wellness is to promote positive school culture and climate by creating safe and collaborative school and classroom environments. Social Emotional Learning curriculum integrated throughout the academic day supports the social and emotional well being of our students. CASEL defines social emotional learning (SEL) as "the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need to understand and manage emotions, set and accomplish positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions. There are 5 core competencies of SEL, as defined by CASEL: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social-Awareness, Relationship Skills & Responsible Decision Making. Educators can utilize the curriculum and lesson plans listed below to begin incorporating SEL into classrooms, schools, and homes & communities.

Mental Health in the Classroom

Second Step

Second Step is a program rooted in social-emotional learning (SEL) that helps transform schools into supportive, successful learning environments uniquely equipped to encourage children to thrive. More than just a classroom curriculum, Second Step's holistic approach helps create a more empathetic society by providing education professionals, families, and the larger community with tools to enable them to take an active role in the social-emotional growth and safety of today's children. Contact your school counselor to access your school's second step curriculum, available for Preschool to 8th grades. Second step kits are also available through the Counseling & Guidance Department lending library.

KidsHealth.org

KidsHealth in the Classroom offers educators free health-related lesson plans for PreK through 12th grade. Each Teacher's Guide includes discussion questions, classroom activities and extensions, printable handouts, and quizzes and answer keys all aligned to National Health Education Standards. imHealthy with Michael Phelps are lesson plans on emotional health created with the Michael Phelps Foundation. Click below to access lessons by grade spans:

MentalHealth.gov

For Educators - Educators are often the first to notice mental health problems. MentalHealth.gov lists some ways you can help students and their families.

Staff Wellness

In San Diego Unified, our Health and Wellness Program not only promotes optimum physical and mental health for all students but also for all of our employees. Through assessment, evaluation, maintenance, and improvement of the health of pupils and school personnel, our program promotes the physical, mental, and social emotional well being of our staff and students. Good health, facilitated by both knowledge and practice of healthy eating and exercise behaviors and habits, is a major factor in helping students and staff function at optimal levels. San Diego Unified Board of Education recognizes the importance of our student and staff health as defined in our District Wellness Policy. Wellness Program Supervisor, Kate McDevitt, [email protected], (619) 725-5513, leads the District's monthly Wellness Council meetings, supports school site wellness committees, and manages district wellness centers.