The state of student mental health is more troubling than it has ever been. According to a survey from the Health Resources and Services Administration, teens are experiencing a 35% increase in “diagnosed mental or behavioral health conditions,” a 61% increase in anxiety diagnoses, and a 45% increase in depression.
These rising levels of poor mental health can create challenges for students that go beyond their typical assignments. Lower concentration leading to a decrease in grades, absenteeism, and disruptive classroom behaviors are just a few ways these mental health struggles can lead to negative consequences for students.
Schools can explore options such as peer support programs, school counseling, and community partnerships with mental health professionals. Among these, social-emotional learning (SEL) stands out as a strategy that can support students throughout each school day.
Here are a few strategies for school principals looking to integrate SEL into their school’s everyday culture.
Teachers as Role Models
To ensure a school culture that promotes SEL, teachers are one of the most important staff members to depend on. Teachers act as role models for the students, and they can discover the best times to integrate SEL practices into their classrooms.
These are just a few of the ways SEL can blend in with everyday classroom activities.
Curriculum with Heart
Teachers can start the day with SEL in mind by gathering the students for a brief morning meeting that sets a positive tone for the day. Asking questions such as “What’s one thing you’re looking forward to today?” can get students in the mood to get excited about the day. It also allows the students to connect emotionally with the teacher and their peers as they can feel included after sharing their thoughts and feelings.
Lessons with a Purpose
SEL principles can also be embedded into lessons in subjects such as math, science, history and language arts.
For history and language lessons, teachers can ask their students how the characters in a story or the people from history felt about the events they were experiencing. This gives room for students to look at situations from new perspectives and learn empathy for those who have different experiences from their own.
Science and math lessons are great opportunities for team-building activities. Incorporate class projects that encourage students to share ideas and solve problems as a group. It may also help to give each student a role in the group (recorder, presenter, etc.) to ensure all students can feel included in the group as they each have a responsibility to fulfill.
Mindfulness Made Easy
It’s no surprise that students can easily become overwhelmed by school responsibilities. From homework to exams and extracurricular activities, students are an easy target for stress and need support in mitigating it.
For this reason, mindfulness and relaxation exercises are a great way to help students learn how to self-regulate and improve their focus. These exercises can include, but aren’t limited to:
- Short breathing exercises
- Light stretching or yoga
- Gratitude journaling
- Guided meditation
- 10-minute power naps
By integrating mindfulness and relaxation exercises into daily routines, teachers can create a classroom environment that promotes emotional regulation, and a readiness to learn.
From Stress to Success
Addressing the alarming rise in student mental health challenges requires schools to take proactive steps toward creating a supportive and inclusive environment. SEL offers an impactful way to help students build the empathy and self-regulation skills needed to thrive. By incorporating SEL into daily routines, schools can create a culture where students feel supported, engaged, and ready to succeed.
