This article is written by Gary Pettengell and appears on District Administration. You can read the full article here.
A staggering student mental health crisis is pressing many school administrators to update their priorities and leadership approaches to deliver timely emotional support for students.
The path forward is fraught and full of challenges, as the problem’s scope, scale and impact are unparalleled and unprecedented. The most recent State of Mental Health in Today’s Schools survey collected insights from more than 350 school social workers, teachers, counselors, administrators, and district leaders, finding that 85% of respondents agree or strongly agree that students are more stressed and anxious than in previous school years.
The consequences cascade beyond just emotional well-being. Nearly 90% of survey respondents indicated that stress and anxiety negatively impact academic outcomes. With math and reading scores falling across the board, it’s clear that helping students learn requires more than just excellent academic opportunities.
As school administrators give their best to help their staff and students meet the moment, here are three ways they can lead through the student mental health crisis…