Our “emotional backpack” holds all sorts of feelings, beliefs, and experiences that impact our mental health at school and capacity to function effectively. Here’s how school staff can manage their own backpack, as well as support students who are so overloaded that they struggle to learn. Students and Staff Carry Emotional Baggage That Hinders Learning […]
Every school district is feeling the pain of soaring student mental health issues: declining academic performance, disruptive classroom behavior, and an enormous burden on school staff. Some districts are trying to solve the problem by placing more social workers as mental health counselors in schools. Unfortunately, that isn’t likely to help. A licensed clinician can […]
The events of the past few years—the pandemic, shootings, riots, political and ideological battles—have left many of us traumatized. The result is widespread emotional dysregulation, an inability to manage emotional states and responses. And it’s not only children and teens who are experiencing emotional regulation difficulties. It’s the adults, too. Schools across the country are […]
Teacher Appreciation Is Needed More Than One Week A Year Teacher Appreciation Week is a wonderful idea. It’s a chance to recognize the contributions of staff members who may be undervalued. But a week of gestures isn’t enough to help you build the confidence and competence of your staff, let alone solve the growing problem […]
The path to a healthy school climate & culture: mental health accreditation Over the past couple of years, mental wellness support in schools has expanded exponentially. What was once a perk only found in forward-thinking schools is becoming mainstream, and is now recommended by the American Psychological Association and expected by the U.S. DOE. At […]
If you are developing a plan to implement new school mental health programs, part of that process must include figuring out how you will measure the outcome. Here’s why you need to establish proper outcome measurement and reporting BEFORE you select and start implementing a program: Here’s how to develop and implement an effective plan […]