Adolescent mental health has been in steady decline for years and we all know the pandemic was the cherry on top. Schools are in a prime position to help improve our teens’ mental health by integrating the right programs and services and eliminating harmful policies.

• Schools need more mental health professionals on staff
• Gaps should be filled by teachers educated in mental health issues and techniques to improve emotional regulation in their students
• Students should receive social and emotional training in addition to mental health education
• Schools should consider mental health days off for students that need it
• “Zero tolerance policies” and exclusionary discipline practices should be banished
• “Restorative practices” should be adopted to replace antiquated discipline practices that fill the school to prison pipeline
• We should rethink school resource officers who tend to turn regular disciplinary, and behavior matters into criminal offenses

Learn what studies and surveys say about these issues and how you can change things at your teen’s middle or high school and help all students increase their chances of better mental wellbeing.

Access TRANSCRIPT here.

Thank you so much for listening to the show! If you found it helpful in some way, please share it with someone who could also benefit from it. And if you prefer listening on a podcast app, please be sure and follow the show so new episodes will automatically pop up in your que.

I make this show for you, and I really appreciate and value your feedback. I’d love your suggestions for how I make the show better. And if you’d like me to cover a specific topic or you have a parenting question that I could discuss in a future episode, please reach out, I’d love to hear from you!

You may be interested in one or more of my FREE Parenting Guides.

Sources, Resources and Mentions:

The Hopeful Futures Campaign: America’s School Mental Health Report Card

Hopeful Futures Campaign-Take Action

Mental Health America’s Survey: Young People’s Mental Health in 2020

Mental Health First Aid for Adults

Classroom WISE for K-12 teachers

Kognito – implemented by school districts – teachers and staff, students and even parents and caregivers.

Signs Matter: Early Detection American foundation for suicide prevention

More Than Sad American foundation for suicide prevention (companion to Signs Matter)

QPR Online Gatekeeper Training also for suicide prevention

Speaking of Teens Episode #6 – Teaching Teens to Tame Their Emotions

Study on emotion coaching in schools

Somerset Emotion Coaching Project

Gottman Institute

Study on Emotion Coaching in Schools - UK

Emotion Coaching UK (training and videos)

Mental Health First Aid for Teens

NAMI’s live/online program for middle and high schoolers – available for schools and Youth Groups at no charge (called “Ending the Silence”)

Kognito – implemented by school districts – teachers and staff, students and even parents and caregivers.

CASEL State Scoreboard

Interactive Map by CASEL – see your state’s SEL requirements for schools

What Teachers Need to Know About Restorative Justice

Restorative Practices (Guide for Educators)

Great Overview and videos on Restorative Justice

Brookings Institute Report on Policing in Schools

Cops and No Counselors: How the Lack of School Mental Health Staff is Harming Students

SAMHSA’s GUIDANCE TO STATES AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS ON ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES IN SCHOOLS

SAMHSA’s Project AWARE Grant

Great Resources for teachers and students from Mental Health Literacy in Canada

The Youth Mental Health Project a great list of resources and links for teens and families including crisis helplines

National Association of School Psychologists (resources to help advocate)