7 Ways Schools Can Support K-12 Students’ Mental Well-Being

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which marks a time for us to discuss ways to address the challenges faced by millions of individuals who live with mental health conditions. In the school environment, students with mental health issues face their own set of challenges. Fifty percent of all lifetime mental health conditions begin by age fourteen.

Every day, educators, counselors, and other staff members reach out to students struggling with mental health concerns. District leaders develop programs that build coping, relationship-building, and behavioral modification skills.

Yet, in our post-pandemic world, social issues, such as bullying and social media dependence make that job all that much harder. Fortunately, there are ways schools can extend their support to students with mental health conditions to ensure they have the tools they need to be successful.

A Natural Setting to Support Students’ Mental Health

K-12 school districts are in an advantageous position to support students’ mental health. Children and teens spend a great part of each day at school, and they’re surrounded by caring adults who are committed to meeting their needs. Young people are almost as likely to receive mental health services in an educational setting as they are to receive treatment from a mental health provider.

School-based mental health programs are a vital part of student support systems that include early identification of conditions, sharing of resources, referrals for treatment, and training of faculty. Many measures to address students’ mental health are relatively easy to implement and don’t have to add to school budgets. 

7 Ways to Support Students’ Mental Health

Here are 7 ways your school district can expand its efforts to meet the needs of students’ mental well-being:

1. Promote positive self-esteem. A recent study shows that positive self-esteem can help protect young people from developing mental health conditions and build resilience to social challenges.
2. Offer safe outlets to manage difficult feelings. Establish designated safe spaces where students can retreat to when they need a moment to relax and process difficult emotions.
3. Teach Mindfulness. Encouraging students to practice mindfulness can help them manage everyday stress and gain control over their emotions and actions. Schools can teach mindfulness in the classroom, offer small group mindfulness activities, and dedicate time for students to practice mindfulness on their own.
4. Talk about ways to improve physical health. Teachers and counselors can encourage students to eat a balanced diet and get regular exercise. It’s also an opportunity to discuss body neutrality.
5. Conduct regular check-ins. Educators can connect with students about their emotional well-being by regularly asking them about how they’re doing that day. These check-ins can also be done through surveys.
6. Connect with family members and adult caretakers. Check-ins can also be conducted with family members. For instance, a teacher-family conference is a chance to ask a family member how a student is doing and if there are issues arising at home that might be causing them stress.
7. Make use of external resources. Schools can access numerous resources to aid in supporting students’ mental well-being. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers a toolkit to help schools start mental health programs. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has downloadable resources and oversees a Teen and Young Adult HelpLine that connects young people with someone in their age group who shares similar experiences.

Supporting Staff

Teachers, principals, and other staff members also need mental health support, and school districts can take steps to meet their needs so they are empowered to support students. Programs that have been developed for students can be offered to staff, as well, to help them with stress, burnout, and depression. For example, educators can participate in mindfulness training and be connected to therapeutic resources.

As school districts continue to support students’ with mental health challenges, they are helping them to improve their social, emotional, and academic growth and develop critical skills so they can learn to process difficult emotions and manage conflicts—empowering them to have a better life experience from childhood into adulthood.