How Can Schools Help With Mental Health?

8 Ways Schools Can Support Student Well-Being

Supporting student mental health is a critical responsibility for schools, as students face increasing pressures both academically and socially. With mental health challenges on the rise, schools play a pivotal role in creating environments where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to seek help when needed. By fostering a culture of care, providing access to resources, and promoting early detection and intervention, schools can significantly contribute to students’ well-being and academic success. Whether through mental health programs, staff training, or accessible support services, schools have the opportunity to make a profound impact on the mental health and resilience of their students.

Maslow Before Bloom

While it can be argued that academics are the primary responsibility of the educational environment, the fact remains that students who do not feel safe and supported in school are not mentally prepared to take on the task of learning. By working to address the basic needs of students as defined in “Maslow Before Bloom” schools can better serve elements such as physical, social and emotional safety, which includes mental health and wellness.

Schools can help with mental health by putting measures in place that help create a safe and proactive environment for mental health challenges. This can include mechanisms for reporting concerning behavior, social-emotional learning curricula and proactive threat response training.

Education goes far beyond the boundaries of academic learning. Schools have a responsibility to help students develop into productive citizens who can regulate their emotions, form healthy relationships and make responsible decisions. By working to support the whole child, schools can help improve mental health, school culture and academic achievement for all.

Ways to Improve Mental Health In Schools

Being proactive in addressing mental health challenges among students can help to mitigate the risk of harm to themselves and others. The creation and curation of a positive school environment can provide a much-needed respite for students struggling with mental health challenges. Evidence-based programs that can impact school climate include:

Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS)

Acknowledging positive behaviors while providing assistance to students who may need additional guidance helps to create positive school culture. In such an environment, students develop positive habits that build self-esteem, make classrooms operate smoothly and create academic success.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

The so-called “soft-skills” embedded in social-emotional learning prepare students for success, both within the school environment and after their educational careers. SEL lessons enable them to develop proactive coping strategies, make responsible decisions and work collaboratively with others.

Mental Health Curriculum

Learning to protect and care for one’s mental health is a key part of overall wellness. A curriculum centered around mental health awareness can help reduce stigma, teach coping skills and provide tools and resources to help with mental health.

Anonymous Tip Reporting

81% of school violence incidents in the US are anticipated but never reported. Your students have insight into school violence that the adults in their lives don’t have. Enabling them to submit a tip anonymously can help to prevent an incident.

Threat Assessment

Preparing staff to identify, assess and support students who pose a risk to themselves or others lies at the heart of threat assessment training. Educators, support staff and law enforcement can all work together to intervene in situations that cause concern, developing management strategies that support students and prevent violence.

Suicide Awareness & Prevention

Within the past decade, suicide risk among youth has continued to grow. Among young people, suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts increased from 2011 to 2021, according to the CDC. Training staff to know what to look for, what to do and how to work as a team can help students experiencing suicidal ideation to get the help and support they need.

Digital Scanning

Students exist very comfortably in a digital environment, often expressing intent to harm on social media, in email, or through web searches. Digital Threat Detection inspects thousands of electronic communications while also respecting privacy, alerting schools to digital signals of harm and enabling them to respond with help to those who need it while keeping others safe. 

Character360

Character360 equips schools with a holistic framework for managing behavior, fostering character development, and tracking social-emotional growth and mental health. It provides educators with the tools to build a positive school culture where students are supported in both their academic success and emotional development. 

Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis with Navigate360

Navigate360 works closely with schools and districts across the nation to provide strategies and solutions that support student mental health. As a trusted school safety partner, we know that it takes a community of support to care for students’ physical, mental and emotional well-being. With an ecosystem of holistic safety and wellness solutions in place, K-12 schools are in a better position to promote the long-term success of students and teachers.

For more information about how schools can help with mental health, download our resource, Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis. And know that Navigate360 is always here to help you support and encourage students in their mental health journey!