This post originally appeared on our ParentSquare Learning Network blog on January 31, 2020.
Curated by Zareena Zaidi at ParentSquare
We all know that students face an incredible amount of pressure — to be top of their class, excel in extracurriculars, be well-liked by their peers, and find their place in the world — all while navigating how to handle relationships and (for our older students) hormonal changes. Balancing hours of homework and extracurriculars with nonstop demands can lead to some major sleep deprivation and stress. It can all be a lot to manage, completely exhaust students, and take a toll on their mental health.
So, how can educators help support student mental health? How can educators partner with parents to promote well-being so students can excel, both in school and personal development?
The first step is to communicate. Parents can’t help their children if they don’t know how to. And you can’t build a partnership without regular communication to build familiarity and trust.
Whether you are a teacher, school administrator, school counselor or staff, here are some example templates you can use, taken from real messages sent out via ParentSquare.
“SELF-CARE TIPS TO RELIEVE STRESS DURING FINALS” from Rebecca Bucher at Dos Pueblos High School (Santa Barbara Unified School District)
The Youth Wellness Connection is hosting a DESTRESS FEST with THERAPY DOGS just before finals week on January 10!
Finals start on January 15, and students may be feeling the stress of the end of the semester. Please help encourage your students to take care of themselves. Here are a few tips:
SELF-CARE TIPS TO RELIEVE STRESS DURING FINALS
- Stay connected! Ask for support when you need it. Talk to friends, your siblings, your parents… or anyone else who will help boost your mood and help you feel positive. Use those that you trust as a resource to vent and let our your frustrations.
- Eat healthy! It is easy to make more food choices when we are stressed or in a hurry. Increase your intake of protein, nuts, fruits and vegetables, not coffee. Eating well will actually improve your performance on exams and give you more energy.
- Take breaks from studying! Laughter can be the best medicine because it decreases stress hormones and boosts your endorphins! Give yourself a specific amount of time to visit with friends, watch a comedy or read something entertaining, listen to music, take a walk or exercise to mentally recharge.
- Sleep matters! Make sure you are getting at least 8 hours of sleep. Avoid all-nighters to study. Take a power nap if you have the time. Lack of sleep can increase anxiety, depression and you won’t be as prepared for your exams.
- Unplug from your devices! Phones can be a distraction and can actually make studying go much slower. Try turning them off while you study and again an hour before you go to bed. Use the time to breathe and calm your mind.
- Make a list. Sometimes organizing yourself during a busy time can put things in perspective and help you prioritize what is most important. Write down everything you need to do and cross things off as you. There is a feeling of satisfaction as you begin to see what you have accomplished.
“Mental Health Posters” from Catherine Mate at Hickman Middle School (Hickman Community Charter District)
Each group was given a mental health challenge to read about and create an awareness poster. They will then share their poster with the class. The poster includes facts, stigmas, myths and statistics associated with their assigned mental health challenge.
These posters will be placed around our school to help bring awareness to mental health. We are focusing on the following 8 descriptions
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Autism
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Eating disorder
- Schizophrenia
“Community Mental Health Support Services + Additional Resources” from Amanda Graceffa at City Heights Prep in San Diego. Keep in mind these organizations are a mix of national and local San Diego resources. Please adapt to your community needs and local organizations.
Thank you!
[include organization name, website, local address and/or phone number, and potentially a description of their services]
Mental Health/Counseling Services
- Center for Community Counseling
- Community Assessment Team (CAT)
Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) - Family Health Centers
- The Union of Pan Asian Communities
- African Alliance Assistance
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Para Las Familias Center- Episcopal
Community Services - Project Enable
- YMCA
- Somali Family Services
Drug and Alcohol Resources
- Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
- Marijuana Anonymous
- Narcotics Anonymous
- Teen Recovery Program
Clothing Resources
- Sharia’s Closet
Community Resources
- Barrio Station
- Crawford Community Connection Mid
City Resource Center
Food Resources
- Home Start Family Self-Sufficiency
(FSS) - American Red Cross
- Crisis House Emergency Services
- Mama’s Kitchen
Low-Income Resources
- San Diego Continuing Education
- Home Start-Emergency Assistance
Medical Clinics/Health Centers & Resources
- La Maestra Community Health Center
- San Diego Family Care
- Family Health Centers of San Diego
For more ideas, check out some of these resources shared in the Learning Network this month with our focus on Mental Health in K12:
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Webinar “Burnout and Demoralization in K12: Self-Care & Partnering with Parents to Serve Our Students” with guest presenter Mandy Froehlich
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Twitter chat with guest moderator Laura Steinbrink
Questions discussed:
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How can parents and teachers work together to support stressed students?
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When students are struggling to focus on their academics due to anxiety or stress, what strategies can we implement that can work at school and at home?
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What are the best ways for teachers to approach parents about their student’s anxiety or stress?
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Gratitude has proven to help reduce anxiety by helping us focus on the positives instead of the negatives. What gratitude exercises can we promote among families?
We hope this post gives you some inspiration to communicate with your school community about mental health!
