Effective Strategies to Enhance Student Mental Health in Schools

School

Eastern Michigan University**We aren't endorsed by this school

Course

ESSC 105

Subject

Nursing

Date

Dec 12, 2024

Pages

Uploaded by pmeharia

Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Our Schools4

Why Focus on Mental Health and Well-Being?When youth experience poor mental health, they are also at increased risk of school absence and dropout, risky sexual behavior, and illicit substance use.2,3Some groups of youth experience worse mental health outcomes:1,4,5‒Female students ‒Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning students (LGBTQ+)‒Students who have experienced racism in schoolIn 2021…•42% of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless for at least 2 weeks in the past year •22% of high school students reported that they had seriously considered suicide45

What Can Schools Do?Promote the mental health and well-being of students through education, prevention, and early intervention efforts.Provide safe and supportive environments that connect students to caring adults and encourage positive peer relationships. Link students and families to mental and behavioral health services when needed.6

Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders7

Six Evidence-Based Strategies to Support Mental Health and Well-Being in SchoolsIncrease Students’ Mental Health LiteracyPromote MindfulnessPromote Social, Emotional, and Behavioral LearningEnhance Connectedness Among Students, Staff, and FamiliesProvide Psychosocial Skills Training and Cognitive Behavioral InterventionsSupport Staff Well-Being8

Multitiered Systems of Support9

What are we already doing well to support mental health and well-being?10

What new approaches are most important to put in place in the next academic year? 11

Team: Who will be working on this?13

Engagement: How will partners be included?14

Equity: How will we meet the diverse needs of our students and staff?15

Implementation: How will we ensure success? 16

Timeline: When will activities be put in place?17

Increase Students’ Mental Health Literacy (1)Deliver classroom-based mental health education curriculaThis approach has been found to…Decrease stigma related to mental health Increase mental health knowledge and positive attitudes about mental health treatment Increase the number of students asking for help with mental health Implementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 19

Increase Students’ Mental Health Literacy (2)Use peer-led modeling programsThis approach has been found to… Increase positive attitudes about coping with challenging situations Increase the acceptability of asking for helpIncrease students’ perception that adults can provide support related to mental health Implementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 20

Promote Mindfulness (1)Deliver classroom-based mindfulness educationThis approach has been found to... Decrease anxiety Decrease depressive symptoms Decrease negative coping behaviorsIncrease positive coping behaviors Implementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 21

Promote Mindfulness (2)Dedicate time for students to independently practice mindfulnessThis approach has been found to... Decrease anxiety Increase resilience Implementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 22

Promote Mindfulness (3)Offer small-group mindfulness activitiesThis approach has been found to... Decrease stressDecrease depressive symptomsDecrease internalizing behaviors (e.g., feelings of anxiety, withdrawal, and depressive symptoms) Implementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 23

Promote Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Learning Throughout the School (1)Provide classroom instruction focused on building social skills and emotional developmentThis approach has been found to...Decrease anxiety Decrease depressive symptoms Decrease internalizing behaviors (e.g., feelings of anxiety, withdrawal, and depressive symptoms) Increase mental health and well-being Increase resilienceImplementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 24

Promote Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Learning Throughout the School (2)Offer targeted education focused on teaching social skills and emotional developmentThis approach has been found to... Decrease anxiety Decrease depressive symptoms Decrease internalizing behaviors (e.g., feelings of anxiety, withdrawal, and depressive symptoms) Implementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 25

Enhance Connectedness Among Students, Staff, and FamiliesProvide relationship-building programsThis approach has been found to... Decrease internalizing behaviors (e.g., feelings of anxiety, withdrawal, and depressive symptoms) Implementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 26

Provide Psychosocial Skills Training and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (1)Promote acceptance and commitment to changeThis approach has been found to...Decrease somatic symptoms (physical reactions to emotional distress──e.g., dizziness, nausea, chest pain)Decrease depression Increase copingImplementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 27

Provide Psychosocial Skills Training and Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions (2)Provide cognitive behavioral interventionsThis approach has been found to... Decrease anxiety Decrease depressive symptoms Decrease internalizing behaviors (e.g., feelings of anxiety, withdrawal, and depressive symptoms) Decrease posttraumatic stress Implementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 28

Provide Psychosocial Skills Training and Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions (3)Engage students in coping skills training groupsThis approach has been found to...Decrease anxiety Decrease depressionIncrease coping Implementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 29

Support Staff Well-Being (1)Offer mindfulness-based training programsThis approach has been found to...Decrease anxiety Decrease depressive symptoms Decrease stress Increase well-beingImplementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 30

Support Staff Well-Being (2)Provide therapeutic resourcesThis approach has been found to... Decrease anxiety Decrease depressive symptoms Decrease stress Implementation Support: Timeline:Equity Considerations: Team: Engagement with Partners: 31

Questions, Comments, Ideas?32

References1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth risk behavior survey: Data summary and trends report, 2011-2021. Accessed May 26, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/YRBS_Data-Summary-Trends_Report2023_508.pdf2.Conway KP, Swendsen J, Husky MM, He JP, Merikangas KR. Association of lifetime mental disorders and subsequent alcohol and illicit drug use: results from the National Comorbidity Survey–Adolescent Supplement. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;55(4):280-288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2016.01.0063.Finning K, Ukoumunne OC, Ford T, Danielsson-Waters E, Shaw L, De Jager IR, Stentiford L, Moore DA. The association between child and adolescent depression and poor attendance at school: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2019;245:928-938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.0554.Mpofu JJ, Cooper AC, Ashley C, Geda S, Harding RL, Johns MM, Spinks-Franklin A, Njai R, Moyse D, Underwood JM. Perceived racism and demographic, mental health, and behavioral characteristics among high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic—Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, United States, January–June 2021. MMWR Supplements. Apr 1 2022;71(3):22-27. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su7103a45.Johns MM, Lowry R, Andrzejewski J, et al. Transgender Identity and Experiences of Violence Victimization, Substance Use, Suicide Risk, and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — 19 States and Large Urban School Districts, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019;68:67–71. https://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6803a333