Expert Viewpoint
Supporting Student Mental Health Now and in the Future
Often educators, school
administrators and counselors are a first line of defense when a
student is struggling with their mental health. But when schools
closed in March, so too did their window into students’ wellbeing
because in-person interactions between students and those who would
typically help them ceased.
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a
significant toll on students’ mental health as they cope with
stressors at home and anxiety and uncertainty about the future —
including what their school year will look like. For example, during
the early months of the pandemic child abuse complaints dropped,
sometimes by as much as 50
percent. But this wasn’t because the abuse had
stopped. In fact, the opposite was likely true because many children
were now in lockdown with their abusers. Instead, experts attributed
the drop in reported cases to the fact that children were no longer
interacting with the people who would typically notice and report
concerns — including their teachers, coaches and school counselors.
Now, as students go back to school —
whether it’s in-person, online or a hybrid model, we must make sure
students are getting the mental health support they need. Schools
must have the right tools and technology to stay on top of wellbeing
concerns — from suspected abuse to anxiety and depression — even
if students aren’t physically in classrooms.
Mental health a top concern
I believe pandemic-related mental
health will be among the most prevalent concerns this school year.
Our company, Impero Software, offers free software to help schools
effectively track student wellbeing. According
to a recent study from September 2020, nearly a
quarter of people in the United States are experiencing symptoms of
depression — nearly three times the number before the COVID-19
pandemic began. Stress and anxiety stemming from the pandemic can
bring about new mental health issues for those who have not needed
help before and can exacerbate problems for those whose mental health
is already compromised. Children may
be especially susceptible because their wellbeing and
world views are shaped by routine. When that routine is upended, such
as was the case when schools and day cares suddenly closed, sports
activities and summer camps were cancelled and students were
separated from friends and family — it can be catastrophic for
their mental wellbeing. Isolation has been another top concern for
students during the pandemic. Many are also stressed and anxious
about going back to school because of the change of its fundamental
structure to virtual schooling, hybrid learning, or even just having
to avoid close contact with their friends while in-person. For some
children there are also issues of bereavement over the loss of a
friend or relative to COVID-19. Combined, these factors have a
significantly negative impact on students’ mental wellbeing.
How schools can help
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Embrace technology. As
schools resume — whether online, in-person or in a hybrid model,
students may need help working through the emotions and the trauma
the last several months have caused. Schools should have plans in
place to track and address wellbeing concerns whether or not
students are in the classroom. This is where technology comes in.
For example, we’ve created a free tool called Impero
back:drop which allows authorized school staff
members to record student wellbeing concerns and also access and
share histories for each student in order to obtain a full picture
of that student’s health and wellbeing. It gives districts a way
to keep track of and communicate potential concerns safely and
securely, eliminates the need for paper-based reporting systems, and
can be used whether students are learning at school or at home.
Using a digital system and having one place to digitally store
records and track concerns allows schools and districts to stay on
top of issues and take necessary steps to help students cope with
trauma. Pairing wellbeing software with remote learning tools can
help schools prioritize mental health and support distance learning
all at once.
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Train counselors and
teachers on what to look for during distance learning. Issues
that arise during distance learning are a bit different than those
that happen during in-person instruction. As an example, if a
teacher sees a child being pushed into a locker in a school hallway,
they intervene. Educators need to take that same level of care in
the online environment to help detect situations of cyber bullying,
mental health concerns, or trouble at home. If a student isn’t
showing up for synchronous learning, educators need to have ways to
communicate with the student to determine what is impeding their
education. They also need to be provided tools that enable them to
spot and speak with children who aren’t engaging during video
classes.
One of our
partners, Mental Health America, offers a Back
to School Toolkit that provides resources for schools.
It includes a list of warning signs to watch for such as changes in
mood, changes in attitude, or physical changes such as suddenly
wearing long sleeves and cuffs when it’s warm outside.
MentalHealth.gov
is another good resource for educators and the Suicide Prevention
Resource Center provides resources
specific to suicide prevention.
This school year will be challenging
for many students. Because of the pandemic and the new ways teaching
and learning are taking place this year, keeping track of student
wellbeing will be a more complex task. But that doesn’t mean
schools can let it go by the wayside. In fact, it may be more
important than ever to track student wellbeing to ensure this is not
a lost year academically. With the right technology and training,
educators and counselors can continue to be a student’s first line
of defense in ensuring a safe learning environment.