Understanding the Mental Health Crisis In Our Schools

Turn on the news and you will see, an increase in school shootings and childhood suicides. Mental health is a growing crisis. It seems that the only time we even look at the issue of mental health is in moments of crisis. Schools are designed to educate the whole child. The challenge is how do we go about tackling this issue?

Mental health issues are real for all students, even in our youngest learners. The Child Mind Institute reports that half of all mental illness occurs before the age of 14. 1 and 5 students need treatment yet 70% of students with mental health disorders do not receive adequate treatment. http://neatoday.org/2018/09/13/mental-health-in-schools/

So, what is mental health and what does that look like for our students?

According to the oxford dictionary, mental health is a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. For our students, mental health issues are centered around several factors, including peer pressure, the need to belong, bullying, family expectations, etc.… Students may come to school battling with issues they are scared to discuss.

What can Educational leaders do?

Þ   Acknowledge that mental health issues do exist in our schools and the impact that untreated mental illnesses have on learning

Þ   Look past a student’s behavior and think about reasons why behavior is occurring. Take time to ask what’s wrong and work towards getting to the root of the problem?

Þ   Make sure the school environment allows students the safe space to share and discuss daily challenges

Þ   Train all staff on how to deal with students who may have a mental illness.

Þ   Enlist socio-emotional, anti-bullying and suicide prevention programs as needed within the school.

Þ   Actively seek out partnerships with families and community agencies.

Thompson’s Tidbits: Be the person students want to confide in. Be willing and open to address issues head on. Remember the goal for all educational leaders should be to help our learners reach their maximum potential at school and home, and take the necessary measures.