Mental Health in Schools
"Mental health is all too often one of the last things that we pay attention to, even though we know how immensely important it is" - David Anderson, expert on schools and mental health at Child Mind Institute ( Nadworny & Drummond, 2016)
Learning about mental health this past week has brought up essential topics for a future educator. While listening to the podcast For Kids, Anxiety about schools can feel like being chased by a lion! Shared firsthand how severe anxiety does not only affect the student but the families of the students as well (Cardoza, 2016). Hearing the teenage boy describe how he wanted to join friends was heartbreaking because he was too nervous to follow through (Cardoza, 2016.). Though, it was inspiring to know there are programs like Aspire that are full of professionals to help students daily with their anxiety and help in finding techniques and methods to make learning and going to school easier for them ( Cardoza, 2016).
Depression is one of the several mental health conditions affecting many people worldwide (National Alliance on Mental Health, n.d.). Symptoms include changes in sleep, appetite, lack of concentration, loss of energy, lack of interest in activities, hopelessness or guilt, changes in movement, physical aches and pains, and suicidal thoughts (National Alliance on mental Health, n.d). The slide show above includes essential mental health conditions affecting students today. As a future educator, learning about depression for my slide, I understand even further the importance of warning signs in students. As a teacher, recognizing those behaviors early on can significantly impact a student's mental health (National Alliance on mental Health, n.d). Teacher strategies within the classroom can also affect the effects of depression in students by including brief mindfulness activities in daily instruction, using trauma-informed educational instruction, and offering support and encouragement (Lochrie, 2021). To have a classroom where students feel safe, seen, and respected so they are ready to learn is the ultimate goal of an educator.
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References:
Anderson, M. (2016). Here's how schools can support students' mental health. NPREd.
Links to an external site.
Cardoza, K. (2016). For kids, anxiety about school can feel like 'being chased by a lion'. NPREd.Links to an external site.
Children's Wisconsin(March 21, 2021) Ask the experts: Depression in kids and how to help[ Video] Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rddM0ggYKo
Conditions. (n.d.). National Alliance on Mental Health.
Links to an external site.
Depression Factsheet (for Schools) (2022)KidsHealth®
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/depression-factsheet.html
Nadworny, E. & Drummond, S. (2016). A silent epidemic. National Public Radio.Links to an external site.
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteFor this week's blog post I feel you did a great job with not only your slide on the group presentation but the insight you added to the blog post about mental illness. Depression I would consider one of the most well known and spoken about mental illnesses that a human can suffer from. This is definitely due to the lasting impacts it can have on someone's life. It can affect families as well as actions. Depression can lead to self harm which is the main concern that comes when a patient is diagnosed with depression. You state in your post that as a future educator you “understand even further the importance of warning signs in students” this is very important because as future educators we spend a lot of time with a child and we must take it upon ourselves to make sure they are getting the care they need. I very much like the vast array of information you provided on your slide show. I specifically like all the information you provided on how a teacher can help a student suffering from depression.