Whether you work as a school nurse or other school professional, one important consideration of your work is students’ mental health and well-being. Children and teens go through many changes during this time, and being aware of what’s going on in and out of school can be beneficial for ensuring all students get appropriate mental health support when needed.
It takes a team effort to prioritize student mental health: paraprofessionals, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), school psychologists, special education teachers, and school nurses can all take steps to help their students. School professionals should always ensure that students have a mentally healthy, safe place to learn and discuss their challenges.
Trends in Student Mental Health
Talking about mental health concerns in the student population is an important part of providing care and support to the students you serve. The current state of mental health care in schools shows that this will continue to be an important topic for the future.
Recent studies have shown that mental health concerns are growing in schools with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that while some areas have seen a slight decrease in concern, there are still many areas with room for improvement.
Depression and Suicide
The percentage of students experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness has decreased, notably, among female students, including a decrease in serious thoughts of suicide. Hispanic and Black students reported improvements in mental health as well including decreases in persistent sadness, thoughts of suicide, and suicide attempts.
Student Safety
Despite these encouraging trends, there are rising concerns about violence and safety among students. The percentage of students being bullied or threatened/injured with a weapon at school increased. Additionally, more students reported missing school due to safety concerns either at school or on the way to school. These trends highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of student mental health, underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies to address both mental health and safety in schools.
School Professionals’ Role in Mental Health Support
Having mental health supports built into a student’s school environment can make the difference between a child or teenager who feels they have no options and one who knows they can get help when they need it. It can also make a difference in educational outcomes by identifying students with behavioral and mental health issues or learning disorders, such as autism and attention-deficit disorder.
School nurses are often the initial point of contact for behavioral health and wellness concerns, and they play a vital role in determining the kinds of interventions that should take place. School nurses are also the ones who are most likely to be responsible for keeping parents or guardians informed of students’ challenges or health concerns, and they may become the go-to for a community looking for more resources.
Mental health challenges can also be identified in the classroom by teachers and paraprofessionals since they spend the most time with students. They are also supported by school psychologists and counselors when needed to help address and treat mental health issues. Other school professionals who meet with students individually, like speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists, may also be able to identify a student’s mental health challenges while working with them one-on-one.
Behavioral Health Support
Another growing area of support in schools is in behavioral health, such as applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy. Both behavioral techs and behavior analysts help create and apply support plans to help students establish social skills and improve daily routines.
Top Mental Health Resources for School Professionals
While school nursing staff are often involved in mental health and behavioral concerns among the student population, every school professional can benefit from researching and understanding how they can help support their students better. The following resources can aid your efforts and provide outside support for families and communities looking for further information.
- The National Association of School Nurses (NASN): NASN provides mental health resources as well as other health and practice resources to school nurses. The organization offers several helpful training resources, including “Elevating the Role of School Nurses on School Behavioral Healthcare Teams” and “Is Substance Use Undermining Adolescent Mental Health? School Nurse Role on the School-Based Mental Health Team.” There are also additional resources that provide contact hours for nurses looking for continuing education (CE) credits.
- The National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH): Active since 1995, NCSMH is an organization through the University of Maryland School of Medicine. It supports the importance of providing mental health services to families, adolescents, and children.
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI is the largest grassroots mental health organization in the United States; there are over 700 NAMI State Organizations and Affiliates. You can search by state to find your local branch.
- The Child Mind Institute: The Child Mind Institute combines care, education, and science to help children and families with learning and mental health disorders. This is a nonprofit organization that has developed Mirror, a mental health journaling app.
- StopBullying.gov: StopBullying.gov is an official organization through the United States government and is designed to help people prevent, identify, and react appropriately to bullying in schools. It has insight into federal law, what schools can do to help, cyberbullying support, and even what children can do to help.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): SAMHSA is another official organization through the United States government that offers support through mental health services across the country. It offers many resources, such as crisis lifelines, disaster helplines, and a treatment finder for mental and substance use disorders.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics: The American Academy of Pediatrics offers tools for advocacy, as well as training, in current AAP Mental Health Competencies for Pediatric Practice. Its resources give you insight into current screening techniques, assessment requirements and resources, and more.
SHC Supports Healthy Schools
Mental health resources can help you learn everything you need to know to be the best advocate for students and families in your school and community. There will always be stressors that trigger behavior issues, just as there will always be mental health concerns that emerge in these young age groups. As a school nurse or other professional in a school system, your attention to the needs of your students will go a long way in ensuring they get the care they need and have access to resources that support their health and educational success.
Supplemental Health Care offers school professionals helpful resources, supportive recruiters, as well as training and mentorships, to be successful in schools — whether you’re working one-on-one or across multiple schools. Get in touch today to find out more about behavioral health and school jobs for paraprofessionals, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), school psychologists, special education teachers, school nurses, and more!
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