The Importance of Mental Health in School

Mental health is a crucial aspect of a student’s well-being and directly impacts their ability to learn, engage, and succeed academically. For school administrators and counselors, understanding and addressing mental health is not just beneficial—it's essential. When mental health is prioritized, students not only perform better academically but also develop resilience, social skills, and coping mechanisms that serve them throughout their lives.

Mental health is paramount to student success, both academically and socially. Yet, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. Furthermore, the CDC reports that mental health issues in adolescents have been linked to lower academic achievement, increased dropout rates, and impaired social relationships. These statistics highlight the reasons why schools must address mental health as a critical component of the overall educational experience for students.

Given the rise in mental health issues among youth, from anxiety to depression, schools are now more than educational institutions—they are safe havens where students should feel supported and understood. Hence, school administrators and counselors play a pivotal role in creating environments that foster mental well-being. And as such, they need professional learning about how to do that as well as the fundamental basic strategies that work. 

Strategies That Foster a Supportive and Open Environment

1. Training for Faculty and Staff

The first thing that school leaders must recognize is that not all educators, even counselors, are well-versed in the standards and practices associated with helping students with their well-being. Training sessions can equip educators with the skills to recognize signs of mental distress, approach students with empathy, and refer them to appropriate resources. When teachers are informed and proactive, they can significantly impact a student’s mental health and stability. The key is that school and classroom culture are supportive and open in ways that cultivate a supportive and open environment. 

2. Teaching Social and Emotional Learning Lessons

CASEL recommends explicit instruction in SEL with dedicated time during the day for it to occur. This means that schools need to create and/or adopt lessons that are specifically geared toward social and emotional outcomes for learners. The most effective manner for this to take place is with step-by-step guides for teachers and/or the use of a platform that can provide modules with information and videos so that students can experience individualized self-paced lessons. 

3. Developing Peer Support Systems

One effective way to create a supportive atmosphere is through peer support systems. These programs train students to assist their peers in managing stress, navigating social dynamics, and seeking help when necessary. Peer mentors can provide relatable guidance and a listening ear, thus reducing the feeling of isolation and fostering a sense of community.   

4. Conducting Quick Mood Check-Ins

Quick mood check-ins are simple yet powerful tools for monitoring the emotional climate of your campus. These brief surveys, like the one offered by MaiaLearning, allow students to express their feelings regularly, helping identify those who may need additional intervention and support. 

Mood check-ins allow for early identification before an issue is escalated and empower students by encouraging them to reflect and articulate their emotional needs. These check-ins also strengthen the bond between adults and students by demonstrating that the school cares about their well-being at all times. Regular student check-ins provide informative data that can be used to help shape decisions around planning, resource allocation, and overall school strategies.

5. Using Well-Being Surveys

Well-being surveys offer a more comprehensive look at students' mental health and overall satisfaction with their school experience. These surveys can cover various aspects, from academic stress to social relationships and physical health. The insights provide valuable data that can inform policies and programs. Surveys also elevate student voice by giving students a platform to share their experiences and suggestions. An example of this is the Student Flourishing Survey in the MaiaLearning platform. This university-validated psychometric tool, written specifically for secondary school students, is designed to assist schools in working with staff and students to help them remain mentally healthy and optimize their well-being. For school leaders, the survey results can also provide more of a holistic view of the broader context of students’ lives beyond academics, attendance, and behavior. 

6. Teaching Students About Their Strengths

Every child has unique character strengths, and knowing these strengths helps them become more confident, resilient, and better equipped to handle challenges. Using validated and reliable tools to help students identify and engage with their signature (top) strengths means they are more likely to do well in school.

7. Offering Open Channels of Communication

Establishing clear and confidential ways for students to seek help and posting the steps to do so is another key strategy to support students’ mental health needs. This can include anonymous reporting systems, regular check-ins with counselors, and open-door policies for administrators. It’s important for students to know and understand how they can reach out to an adult for help when they need it. Communicating these methods in the announcements, through message boards, and in newsletters tells everyone that the school has the systems and resources to respond. And it shows that the school cares about more than just the academic achievement of the student body and includes the whole child in its approach to schooling. 

8. Creating Safe Spaces

Schools can create designated areas within the school where students can go to relax and decompress. These spaces should be quiet and filled with comforting items like bean bags, soft lighting, and stress-relief tools. Students who need this type of support can have a set of protocols for when they can use the spaces, how they indicate that they need to do so, and the permitted frequency of their visits. 

Conclusion

Supporting student mental health is a multifaceted endeavor requiring commitment from the entire school community. School counselors are often at the heart of this effort, offering direct support to students and guiding the implementation of mental health initiatives

By fostering a supportive environment through training, explicitly teaching SEL, developing peer support systems, using tools such as quick mood check-ins and well-being surveys–schools, leveraging student strengths, opening lines of communication, and providing safe spaces, schools can create a nurturing atmosphere where students thrive both academically and emotionally.

Take action today to prioritize your students' mental health and ensure that your school is a place where every student feels valued, supported, and ready to succeed. 

Reach out to sales@maialearning.com to find out more about the SEL lessons, Flourishing Well-being Survey, Quick Mood check-ins, and the Strengths Survey that are all available within the MaiaLearning platform.