How your school can support mental health in kids and teens

May 10, 2023, 15:42 , 15:42 by

There’s no question the pandemic took an incredible toll on K–12 students. They endured social isolation, an abrupt shift to remote learning and disrupted routines. Combined, these factors contribute to an alarming rise in mental health conditions, most notably a surge in anxiety and depression. In fact, two-thirds of parents polled by UNICEF Canada in 2021 reported their child’s mental health had worsened during the pandemic, with nearly half saying their children were experiencing new mental health challenges since the onset.

Students’ families, of course, have a significant stake in addressing this growing concern. But, educators and schools also play a critical role in addressing it by prioritising mental health support and identifying appropriate interventions to ensure the wellbeing and success of their students. Read on for some ways your school can help students cope, especially as summer approaches.

Sounding the alarm on the mental health crisis

Expanded mental health supports in schools have long been a need. While the repercussions of COVID-19 have undeniably affected kids and teens, the truth is mental health issues were acute even before then. The use of mood and anxiety medication by youth ages 5 to 24 steadily grew between 2016 and 2020, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information’s “Children and youth mental health in Canada” study.

However, conditions have worsened dramatically, with Canadian children’s hospitals reporting that mental health related admissions doubled during the pandemic. Admissions due to suicide attempts also doubled on average, with one children’s hospital reporting that they tripled.

The role of schools in providing better mental health supports

Despite the prevalence of mental health conditions among children and teens, support can be hard to come by. The Canadian Institute for Health Information found that in 2022, only three out of five youths ages 12 to 24 with self-reported early needs were able to access mental health and substance use services.

Schools are in a unique position to help assess youth for anxiety and depression. As a result, they increasingly are deploying a universal screening model to identify those at risk and create a plan to offer appropriate supports. The key is identifying at-risk students AND providing additional educational resources to raise students’ awareness of mental health issues and connect those affected with applicable resources and tools. The SAIM model — screen, assess, intervene, monitor — ensures that each student receives the individual supports they need and allows the supports to be adjusted over time as their condition evolves.

Universal screening also promotes equity by ensuring no student falls through the cracks. As the Canadian Paediatric Society’s April 2022 “Policy Brief” asserts, “Strengthening Canada’s mental health care system and addressing persistent and discriminatory gaps in access will help young people recover from the impacts of the pandemic and support the health and development of future generations.”

Besides leveraging universal screening to improve student access to supportive resources, educators can champion a safe environment by fostering a culture that nurtures each child individually and has no tolerance for bullying. The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) shares that “a positive school environment” can be an important factor in reducing mental health risk.

Providing ongoing support during the summer months

Educators are often concerned about student learning loss over summer vacation. As they aim to foster holistic wellbeing for their students, they also need to consider how mental health can be affected during the summer break. Of particular concern is students who find themselves without the supports they rely on during the school year, including a routine and a place to go where they are surrounded by caring adults.

Some specific actions educators can take to help are:

Educate students on how healthy habits can bolster mental wellbeing. Neglecting school-year routines can lead to disrupted schedules, but youth will feel better physically and mentally if they prioritise healthy eating and adequate physical exercise and sleep.
Recommend activities that can help keep them busy and involved, which will help boost their mental health. For example, you can share details on summer school programs, volunteer activities and community events. Encouraging teens to seek employment can help them learn important skills while earning extra money and creating positive interactions.
Raise awareness of help available outside of school, which can provide a lifeline to students and families. Schools can create a list of community resources such as local peer support groups and telehealth services, which they can publicise via the school website, social media platforms and other channels regularly used to communicate with students and families. An important one to underscore is Kids Help Phone, a 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support to young people in English and French.

Caring for the whole student

Promoting better mental health should be a key focus as you strive to create an inclusive community that focuses on your students’ overall wellbeing. For more free resources and tools, visit Pearson’s Mental Health Resource Centre. If you are an educator, be sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to keep up with our #MHMonday series where we share mental health activities, tips, and polls for you and your students!