How To Improve Mental Health In Schools
Let’s discuss a most important health issue often neglected by people and that is mental health in school children.
We all know how important it is to eat healthy, physical activity, sleep well, exercise, workout to stay physically fit.
But what about our mental health?
Just like our physical fitness, mental fitness needs brain exercise, attention, and care too. And guess what? School can be the perfect place to give them that!
School-based mental health program is an important part of the student support system.
The school environment significantly affects their emotional and psychological states, and emotional and psychological states significantly impact their ability to learn, interact, and ability to handle challenges.
In recent times, the mental health of school-going children in the United States has become a topic of concern.
Excessive use of mobile phones, watching bad content, a sedentary lifestyle, substance abuse, psychological trauma, fear of failure, child abuse, etc are the major reasons behind mental health issues in children. Pressure from the academy, social challenges, fear of failure, sexual violence, and other forms of trauma have led to increased stress levels and caused depression among students.
We all know that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all schools and colleges were closed. That disrupted regular school routines, and all students were at home increasing isolation and uncertainties affected the emotional well-being of students.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, classes were conducted online, and this transition to online classes and Zoom meetings, has posed challenges in maintaining social connections, activities, and the social support system that our school generally provides our kids.
Early detection, evaluation, and intervention are very important in children’s mental health issues, as early diagnosis and treatment can significantly impact a child’s mental health and long-term well-being.
The majority of mental health issues occur during childhood, identifying and treating these mental health issues as early as possible can prevent them from exaggeration and from converting into severe problems later in life.
As a teacher, you need to understand your children’s health condition and you have to understand the importance of mental health and create a safe, secure, and supportive environment for your students.
• Benefits of School-Based Mental Health Services
Having good mental health in schools offers multiple benefits that positively affect students’ education, learning, activities, and overall performance.
Some important advantages are discussed below
1. Good academic performance
A child’s good mental health is connected to better understanding, Better concentration, improved Cognitive abilities, and great academic achievement.
Students with good mental health are more likely to succeed academically and can better perform in activities.
2. Positive Social Interactions
Students with good mental health have better social relationships and interactions. They can better speak, communicate, collaborate, and make positive relations with their colleagues, creating a supportive and helpful school community.
3. Enhanced emotional well-being
Schools that prioritize mental health, and create supportive environments contribute to a positive emotional climate.
Students from this kind of school experience lower stress levels, reduced anxiety, and improved emotional well-being. And annual reports of students from these schools are great.
4. Reduced behavioral problems
Schools that concentrate on mental health witness a decrease in behavioral problems.
When students feel emotionally supported, they don’t engage in disruptive behavior, which creates a more suitable learning environment.
5. Increased flexibility
Good mental health increases flexibility in students, which makes them face challenges and stress. Those students are better prepared to handle the ups and downs of the academy and personal life.
6. Higher attendance rates
Good mental health co-relates with higher attendance, mentally fit students
Are more likely to attend classes regularly.
7. Increased problem-solving skills
Students with good mental health can solve their problems easily. They can approach challenges with a positive and planned mindset and find solutions to academic and personal problems.
8. Positive school environment
Schools that prioritize mental health contribute to the creation of a positive school environment. Leading to a more creative, supportive, and nurturing educational experience for everyone.
• Consequences of Lack of School-Based Mental Health Services
1. Performance Decline academically
Poor mental health can impair learning, concentration, and memory, which leads to lower grades and academic performance.
2. Increased absentees
Students struggling with mental health issues are more likely to miss school. That leads to increased absenteeism and lower academic performance.
3. Social isolation
Students who are struggling with mental health issues, isolate themselves, which often leads to social isolation.
4. Behavioral issues
Poor mental health can initiate behavioral problems. Students may show disruptive behavior, and aggressive behavior, creating problems for both teachers and the overall school environment.
5. Reduced self esteem
Poor mental health can significantly affect self-esteem. Students may experience feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and lack of confidence.
6. Limited emotional flexibility
Students who have poor mental health often struggle to cope with stress and anxiety.
7. Risk of substances abuse
Adolescents facing Mental health problems are at higher risk of Addiction to substance as a way to cope. This can lead to substances abuse problems, that further disturb their overall well-being.
8. Long-term impact on future success
Untreated Mental health issues may retard a student’s ability to pursue higher education and achievements of their long-term goals.
• 10 Tips For How to Build Mental Health Awareness in Schools
1. Implement mental health education
Introduce mental health education by incorporating it into the curriculum. This allows students to learn about managing their mental health, dealing with challenging situations, and understanding the importance of seeking help when necessary.
2. Organise workshops and seminars
Conduct workshops and seminars on mental health awareness where experts come to talk. They share insights, resources, helpful information, tools, ideas, and strategies with students and teachers.
3. Promote Open Conversations
Talk freely about what you feel! Encourage open discussion about mental health, and make it okay for everyone to share their thoughts, emotions, and feelings without worrying about being judged.
4. Create a Safe Space
Create specific places in school where students can take a break and relax whenever they need to.
These places work as a stress buster, where students can chill out and feel better, which helps them lowering stress and anxiety.
5. Involve Parents and Guardians
Keep parents informed about what the school is doing for their student’s mental health and ask them to be a part of it. this creates a collaborative approach, where parents and school work together, and it helps students get consistent support at home and school.
6. Establish Peer Support Programs
Implement a peer support program where senior students are like mentors for junior students. They can help and support each other, creating a friendly environment.
7. Incorporate Mindfulness Practices
Try doing simple exercises every day, like meditation, Deep breathing exercises, and yoga into your daily routine. These practices and exercises can help students manage anxiety, and stress and improve their mental health.
8. Display Educational Materials
Post helpful information around school that everyone can see easily i.e. posters, banners, pamphlets, and digital marketing. It’s like having a reminder about mental health that you can check out easily.
9. Train Educators and Staff
Provide training sessions for teachers and other staff on how to notice when someone might be feeling not well mentally ( signs of mental health issues). Give them the tools to help and support students who might need it. It’s like everyone in school knows the signs and symptoms and basic evaluation to diagnose and treat early.
10. Organize Mental Health Awareness Events
Make special events, campaigns, or fun activities during Mental Health Awareness Month or other relevant occasions. This could be like assemblies, shows, art displays, exhibitions, or activities that get everyone talking about Mental health in a friendly way in schools.
• How to Teach Mental Health to Students, 15 Strategies For Your School
Teaching mental health to students is important for their overall well-being.
Teaching mental health in schools isn’t just about giving lectures, posters, banners, and textbook pages. It’s about creating a safe space for exploration, giving useful tools, and being a friendly team.
Here are some engaging strategies to teach mental health education in schools
1. Incorporate Mental Health into the Curriculum
Integrate lessons about mental health into various subjects, so it feels like a normal part of what we learn every day.
2. Use age-appropriate Language
Use language, content, and Stories that match students’ age and development Levels, to make sure they can understand and relate to that information. It’s like talking about things in a way that makes sense for your student’s age and helps you connect with your students.
3. Normalize Mental Health Conversations
Make a friendly, non judgemental space, where anyone can talk openly about how they are feeling, without judgment.
Create an environment where everyone feels okay to share about mental health without any hesitation and worrying about what others might think.
4. Share Real-life Stories
Tell relatable stories or case studies to te help your students see why mental health matters. It’s like learning from stories about people just like us, everyone faces challenges, so we know that we are not alone in facing mental health challenges.
5. Teach Coping Strategies
Provide simple practical ways to handle stress, anxiety, worry, or other things that can bother us.
6. Introduce Mindfulness Activities
Try easy exercises like, meditation, and deep breathing, during class. It’s like a little Break to help your students to feel calm and focused.
7. Invite Guest Speakers
Invite people who are experts in the mental health field, or who have gone through similar things to talk with your students.
They can share their experience and answer any questions your students might have.
8. Use Visual Aids
Use pictures, charts, and videos to show your students tricky ideas in an easy way. That helps in learning about mental health as fun as watching a cool video or looking at pictures that help your students understand easily.
9. Create Safe Spaces
Create a supportive environment for students to freely share their feelings and ask for support if needed.
10. Encourage Reflection
Give your students simple activities that make them think about how they feel, what they do, and what are their thoughts. It is like doing fun tasks that help them understand better.
11. Incorporate Art and Creativity
Encourage students to express themselves and seek help by using projects or creative activities.
12. Promote Healthy Habits
Emphasize the connection between physical and mental fitness, highlighting the importance of proper sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
13. Facilitate Group Discussions
Make a group of students talk to help each other out, work together, solve their problems together, and share their experiences.
14. Provide Resources for Further Learning
Give your students extra material i.e. articles, books, PDFs, or websites if they want to learn more about mental health.
15. Assess Understanding
Check with your students how well they understand mental health by having discussions or little quizzes to find out what they understand and what needs more explanation.
