The United States Surgeon General declared that mental challenges in youth are crises. Experts believe schools are an important place of contact to help children deal with various mental challenges.
The onset of COVID-19 and its impacts have adversely impacted youth mental health. However, experts report that children have been dealing with mental challenges far longer. Feelings of hopelessness and sadness, including suicidal thoughts, have increased 40 percent in the past 10 years, according to a January 2023 American Psychological Association article.
Losing parents or caregivers, the academic isolation of lockdown during COVID, and social isolation combined with worries related to parents losing their jobs or experiencing abuse at home have led to mental challenges. Additionally, children are dealing with the ups and downs of youth and worries about social media, mass violence, natural disasters, climate change, and politics.
Experts believe that schools can be the main pathway to reaching children dealing with mental challenges. However, only half of the nation’s public schools offer mental health assessments and even fewer offer treatment. Psychologists are working toward implementing programs that will address mental health challenges.
The Centers for Disease Control's What Works in Schools program funds districts to see what changes are effective in helping children, whether it involves classroom management, student service-learning programs, mentors, or safe environments for LGBTQ+ students.
Psychologists are also training teachers and school staff to create supportive classrooms and aid students who appear to be dealing with mental health issues. Teachers and staff can receive assistance through Classroom WISE (www.classroomwise.org), a free, flexible, evidence-based online course and resource.
