The holiday season is often associated with cheer, family gatherings, and much-needed time off, but for many students, it can also bring increased stress, feelings of isolation, and anxiety. While winter break offers a reprieve from the daily grind of schoolwork, the time away from school can be a vulnerable period for students, especially those struggling with mental health challenges.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health, the experiences children and young people have at school have a major impact on their mental health. At school, children can learn new knowledge and skills, develop close relationships with peers and supportive adults, and find a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and belonging. However, negative experiences like bullying, academic stress, and lack of resources can have a detrimental effect on mental health, leading to struggles that often manifest in behaviors such as withdrawing, trouble concentrating, or acting out.
Although research shows suicide rates are actually lowest in December, the winter break still presents unique challenges. These challenges — ranging from heightened stress to feelings of loneliness and uncertainty — underscore the importance of schools taking the steps needed to support student mental health during this time.
So, how can schools provide mental health support and ensure students continue receiving the care they need, even when away at home? One solution is leveraging technology like GoGuardian Beacon to help identify students demonstrating at risk behavior before concerns become crises.
The key to reducing crisis during breaks? Being proactive
School breaks should be a time for students, teachers, admins, and counselors to relax and recharge. However, for those working in student support roles, breaks can often bring stress due to the heightened risk of crises occurring while school is out. From a school counselor's perspective, this is where tools like GoGuardian Beacon can make a significant difference.
Beacon allows schools to identify students in distress and connect them with services before their struggles escalate into crises. By offering supervision of student activity online, Beacon helps schools catch early warning signs — such as concerning search queries or online behaviors — that may not be immediately visible in the classroom. This allows administrators, counselors, and support staff to step in early, helping students access the resources they need before the situation becomes dire.
One of the key benefits of GoGuardian Beacon is its customizable escalation lists, which allow schools to tailor their response teams to the unique needs of the break period. For example, during winter break, schools can adjust their response systems to ensure the right people are notified promptly, even when many staff members are off-campus.
A personal assistant for student mental health
Tracy Clements, GoGuardian’s Education Strategist, Student Safety & Mental Health, says that in her experience as a school counselor, one of the most challenging aspects of supporting students during breaks was not knowing exactly who needed help.
“It was common for students to keep their struggles hidden until their behavior changed drastically, or they reached out to friends or adults. But by that time, the crisis had often already escalated. With GoGuardian Beacon, I had a tool that acted like a personal assistant for identifying students who might need help — before they showed significant outward signs of distress.”
Beacon enabled Clements and her team to detect students who were Googling mental health-related terms or displaying troubling online behavior — often a clear sign they were struggling but hadn’t yet sought help. This early intervention capability was invaluable. “My team of counselors could focus our time and resources on supporting the students who needed us most, rather than spending time trying to identify those at risk.”
The results were noticeable. Over time, Clements’ school saw a decrease in the number of crisis-level events, and the students who did need help received it much earlier, which ultimately reduced the impact of those crises.
Streamlined communication and team collaboration
GoGuardian Beacon also helped Clements streamline response systems and improve team collaboration. The system's customizable escalation lists ensured the right people were notified and involved in a timely way, without unnecessary delays. The communication tools built into Beacon made it easy for all members of the response team to stay on the same page, with clear visibility into who was taking action and what steps had been completed. No more long email chains or worrying something might slip through the cracks. Everything was tracked and visible, which allowed her team to respond quickly and efficiently.
Reducing stress for all involved
The CDC recommends schools implement a comprehensive plan to help prevent suicide, emphasizing the importance of identifying and referring individuals at risk to appropriate services and resources. It also stresses the need for schools to strengthen organizational policies that support students at risk and establish clear plans for responding to warning signs. By creating a multi-layered support system that includes proactive detection, clear response protocols, and strong communication, schools can reduce the number of crisis events and better support students. This approach is particularly crucial during breaks, when staff need the ability to disconnect and focus on their own well-being, without the added pressure of worrying about potential crises that could occur when they’re not on campus.
Tools like GoGuardian Beacon offer schools the ability to be less reactive, ensuring students are supported even when they’re not physically in school. This helps staff maintain peace of mind while still keeping an eye on student well-being.
As schools prepare for winter break, it’s essential to prioritize student mental health and well-being. By implementing comprehensive support systems — such as GoGuardian Beacon — schools can identify and address potential issues before they become full-scale crises. This not only helps reduce the likelihood of stressful situations during breaks but also ensures learners receive the help they need.
The Surgeon General’s Advisory also highlights the importance of creating positive, safe, and affirming environments in schools. This includes developing and enforcing anti-bullying policies, training students and staff on mental health awareness, and fostering inclusive school cultures. Additionally, expanding social and emotional learning programs helps students develop the emotional resilience they need, especially during vulnerable times like school breaks.
Furthermore, the advisory emphasizes providing support systems, including evidence-based programs and early intervention strategies, can help reduce mental health challenges. GoGuardian Beacon’s ability to assess students' online activity provides schools with a powerful tool for early identification and intervention, ensuring students who need help are connected to the right resources quickly.
If you're interested in learning more about how GoGuardian Beacon can help your school take a strategic approach to student mental health, please request a demo. We’d be happy to show you how our tools can support your efforts to keep students safe and healthy, even when school is not in session.
Ready to take a proactive approach to student mental health? Request a demo of GoGuardian Beacon today and see how it can help your school support students, even during breaks.
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