School and Mental Health

By Erin Massey, LCSW

 

With summer preparing to come to an end for the year, school will soon be back in session.  As students, both children and adults, are returning to school there can be many perpetuating factors that add to anxiety or stress related to starting a new school year. Anxieties and concerns of starting something “new” always takes precedence. Some students may be concerned about academic performance, while others may be concerned about the social aspects of school, both positive and negative. Taking care of mental health needs and engaging in self- care are important to being successful in the school year.    According to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) one in six U.S youth between the ages of 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year, also citing that half of mental health conditions may begin by the age of 14 and 75% of mental health conditions begin by age 24. Some of the most common diagnosed disorders for children at school include Attention- Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, anxiety, depression, and behavior problems. Only about half of students diagnosed with these will receive any kind of treatment.    Inadequate or untreated mental health conditions can cause disruptions in a student’s ability to learn, develop and grow. Throughout the years, school districts have worked towards increasing awareness and access to mental health resources since students spend a large amount of time in educational settings, thus giving schools the opportunity to intervene and help students where they are already required to be.

Some key features of mental health in schools can focus on prevention and promotion, early identification and intervention of any mental health strain, a supportive school environment, and increased access to Mental Health services. The impacts of not having these services available in schools can have lasting effects on student mental health.  Some of the effects of not caring for mental health needs include impacts on academic performance, social emotional development, and can unfortunately have negative long- term outcomes. Early treatment for mental health disorders can help students stay in school and stay on track with working towards achieving their own life goals.  Mental health services that are school based and school linked can be crucial in reducing barriers for students and their families in getting them connected to helpful resources in the community.

Furthermore, if your child or someone else in your life is struggling with a mental health disorder, take advantage of the resources available to you at their school, as it can be the first step in helping that individual reach their full potential and achieve their personal goals.