Student wellness and mental health are fundamental to academic success and overall development. Schools must adopt a holistic approach that integrates mental health, physical health, emotional well-being, and social connections to create environments where students thrive. Administrators, teachers, and counselors all have a part to play in helping learners become the best they can be. Looking at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we know students can only learn at their best when their needs for mental and physical health have been met. How can districts ensure they are doing everything they can to encourage the creation of an environment where students are ready to do their best every day?
The Surgeon General's Advisory on Mental Health outlines the significant impact mental health can have on a student's academic performance, relationships, and overall well-being. It emphasizes that schools are critical settings for supporting the mental health of learners by promoting positive environments and providing resources for students in need. This is why it’s so important for schools to not only prioritize student wellness but actively build systems to promote mental health awareness and support.
We’ve broken down what you need to know about the differences between student wellness and student mental health, actions teachers and schools can take to support those under their care, and how GoGuardian Beacon can help your school cultivate a safe place for students to learn, be themselves, and grow.
What is student wellness?
When we speak about student wellness, we are looking at the full picture: The overall health and well-being of learners. As the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention emphasizes, there is no single solution to addressing the complex factors impacting student well-being. A whole-of-society approach — one that incorporates care, connection, and collaboration — is needed to meet the diverse needs of students. This approach includes not only focusing on mental health but also supporting the physical, emotional, and social aspects of a student’s life. In schools, this means integrating wellness practices across all areas, from physical education to emotional resilience programs and peer support networks.
How does student wellness differ from student mental health?
Student wellness and student mental health may sound as if they are similar concepts, but each deserves its own explanation. The two work in tandem to ensure learners are happy, healthy, and ready to take on new and exciting challenges. As we covered above, student wellness refers to the broader picture of a student’s overall state. It includes mental health, but also social engagement, academic success, and physical health as well. While mental health is an extremely important aspect of focus, fulfilling a learner’s physical, emotional, and social needs is paramount to ensuring an all-around healthy life.
Student mental health refers specifically to the psychological and emotional well-being of students. This can include but is not limited to building solid relationships with trusted peers and adults, learning how to navigate and adapt to challenges that arise, and the ability to cope with stress healthily.
How can teachers support student wellness?
There are myriad ways teachers and other school staff can ensure a safe, healthy environment to support student wellness for the learners in their care. Here are a few examples educators may want to consider.
- Be on the lookout for signs of distress: Many students who struggle with depression or anxiety may exhibit a drop in academic performance, start to act differently than they usually do, or appear to distance themselves from their peers. The quicker one can spot these signs, the sooner they can get learners the help they need.
- Nurture a supportive classroom environment: Students should feel welcomed and encouraged to speak their minds when they enter a class. Every moment is a learning experience, and no one should be made to feel as if their opinion doesn’t matter.
- Talk about it…: Educational standards must be met, yes, but teachers should try to incorporate topics like social-emotional learning, resilience, and stress management in lessons where it makes sense to do so. Life lessons are just as important as math, English, and social science.
- …Then walk the talk: Just as important as teaching what students should do to help manage their mental health is to lead by example. Don’t just make suggestions - take them to heart and model them for your learners. They’ll respect you all the more for it.
- What students have to say matters: Students should feel safe in healthily expressing their feelings. Make time and space to hear their concerns if they feel comfortable sharing them with you.
How can schools support student wellness?
Districts as a whole can and should also play a role in ensuring student wellness. Here are a few possible ways to start.
- Support wellness education programs: Invest in programs that help teach techniques to improve physical health, nutrition, and emotional well-being through dedicated specifically related classes or school-wide campaigns.
- Create committees focused on wellness: Wellness is a team effort. Bring together educators, students, counselors, and caregivers to develop and implement wellness initiatives.
- Avoid homework overload: Work together with teachers to ensure homework policies and testing methods don’t overwhelm students while still providing enough academic rigor to challenge and engage them.
- Promote and provide support for extracurricular activities: The arts, sports, and other themed clubs will help students create a sense of community and build social connections with peers with similar interests.
- Ensure easy access to mental health resources: Students may not be fully aware their school offers counseling services, mental health screenings, or workshops on coping strategies and stress management. Put up posters, send out emails, and have teachers make announcements in class to ensure all learners have the support they need.
The CDC’s recommendations on suicide prevention emphasize the importance of accessible mental health resources and creating environments that promote connectedness. By focusing on academic and emotional wellness, schools help lay the foundation for long-term student success inside and outside the classroom.
How does GoGuardian Beacon provide additional student wellness and mental health support to schools?
With GoGuardian Beacon, a software tool designed to assist counselors, IT administrators, and school officials in identifying students contemplating suicide or self-harm, schools have a true partner in student mental health support.
In alignment with the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention call to action — Care, Connect, Collaborate — GoGuardian Beacon plays a critical role in identifying students at risk and alerting schools and districts to concerning behaviors. Since 2020, Beacon has helped protect an estimated 18,623 students from harm, highlighting the importance of proactive assessment of student wellness and mental health. By providing customizable alerts, Beacon empowers schools to decide who, how, and when notifications are received, ensuring each district can take the most appropriate steps according to their specific needs and protocols.
GoGuardian Beacon is a machine-learning-based software used by K-12 schools and districts to monitor online activity on school-issued accounts. Operating at the browser level, Beacon scans a wide range of platforms, including search engines, web apps, Gmail, chats, social media, and more. Using advanced algorithms, Beacon can detect concerning behaviors such as active suicide planning, suicide ideation, threats of violence (including guns, bombs, and violent acts), bullying, and historical acts. When potential risks are identified, real-time alerts with critical event details are sent to pre-identified school administration and staff, enabling them to quickly assess the situation and perform necessary interventions to support students at risk.
By following the CDC's guidelines on suicide prevention, which call for a combination of data oversight and responsive actions, GoGuardian Beacon helps enable school districts' safety plans so administrators can determine how to best respond to the needs of their community.
Student wellness and student mental health require a comprehensive approach encompassing many different factors and the collaborative efforts of teachers, schools, and tools like GoGuardian Beacon. Together, we can create a healthier, more supportive educational environment that empowers students to thrive both academically and personally.
If you're looking to ensure your school provides a safe, supportive environment where students can thrive, GoGuardian Beacon can help. Beacon empowers educators and administrators to proactively assess student well-being and respond to potential risks before they escalate.
Want to see how it works in action? Request a demo today and discover how GoGuardian Beacon can support your district in fostering a healthier, more connected school community.
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