Students Struggling with their Mental Health

How Can Schools Better Support Them?

As we approach World Teen Mental Wellness Day on March 2nd, the specialist education recruitment agency, Spencer Clarke Group, is taking a look at how schools can support students struggling with their mental health. 

How to support students struggling with their mental health

How schools can support students struggling with their mental health:

• Create a supportive school environment.
• Recognise the warning signs.
• Encourage open conversation.
• Teach coping strategies.
• Be flexible with workloads.
• Encourage positive relationships.
• Refer to professional help when needed.

Create a supportive school environment 

A supportive school environment can help alleviate stress and anxiety by creating an atmosphere where students feel comfortable expressing themselves without fear of judgement. Small gestures such as flexible seating and warmly greeting students can make a huge difference in making students feel comfortable. 

Recognise the warning signs

Mental health struggles can sometimes manifest as changes in behaviour or academic performance. It’s important for teachers to recognise the signs of students struggling with their mental health such as frequent absences, a decline in school grades or withdrawal from friends and activities they previously enjoyed. 

If you notice any of these signs, you should check in with the student to ask how they’re feeling and offer support if needed.

Encourage open conversation

Many students may feel embarrassed or nervous to talk about their mental health so it’s important that teachers do their best to normalise these conversations. You can share appropriate personal experiences or discuss mental health in the classroom, educating other students. 

Make students aware that they can speak with you privately and be mindful not to dismiss their feelings as ‘stress’. 

Teach coping strategies

Incorporate mindfulness techniques such as meditation, journaling or deep breathing to help students manage their anxiety. Encourage students to take breaks when feeling overwhelmed and prioritise self-care such as getting enough rest, taking part in hobbies and eating a balanced diet. 

Teach students healthy strategies for managing their mental health such as staying active, seeking support and limiting their screen time on mobile devices. 

Be flexible with workloads 

Students who are struggling with their mental health may find it difficult to meet deadlines and keep up with tasks at the same pace as their peers. 

Offering extended deadlines and allowing breaks during class can help reduce the pressure on students and ease their stress. 

Encourage positive relationships

Loneliness and isolation can negatively impact a student’s mental health so encouraging peer support through group work is a great method for helping students make new friends. 

Additionally, ensure that bullying and negative interactions are addressed immediately as they can intensify a student’s mental health. 

Refer to professional help when needed

While it’s the teacher’s responsibility to support students at school, they aren’t qualified mental health professionals. If a student’s mental health appears severe, ongoing or beyond your ability to help, you should refer them to a school counsellor or external mental health resources. 

Guide where students can find help and reassure them that asking for help is the first step in the right direction.

The author

Eva Henderson

Eva joined Spencer Clarke Group in 2023 as a Marketing Assistant. Spencer Clarke Group is an award-winning SEND recruitment agency dedicated to assisting schools with their recruitment challenges and finding candidates their dream career paths.

https://www.spencerclarkegroup.co.uk/