Safety Alert: Student Mental Health & Wellness

The COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest, and economic decline have been taking a toll on the mental health of Americans, including kids, as highlighted in many recent news stories:

• One in Four Teens Involved in Bullying Incidents
• A Majority of Teens Have Experienced Some Form of Cyberbullying
• Suicide Now Second Leading Cause of Death Among High School-Aged Youths
• Teens Are Growing Depressed and Disconnected From School
• The Crisis in Youth Suicide
• Almost 60% of Parents with Children Aged 14-18 Reported Them Being Bullied

The Impact of COVID-19 on Student Mental Health

A new survey done in August found that almost a quarter of U.S. high school and college students know someone who has had suicidal thoughts during the COVID-19 pandemic. 55% of those students offered support to a peer whom they thought might be struggling with suicidal thoughts. And, 49% reported having a friend reach out to them. The survey also found:

• 53% of high school students surveyed said they were “moderately”, “very”, or “extremely” concerned about their mental health.
• 62% of high school students surveyed reported feeling stressed since the start of the pandemic, 38% reported feeling depressed, and 51% said they experienced anxiety.
• 5% of all the students surveyed reported they made a suicide attempt during the pandemic.
• Only 40% of high school students said their school provided useful mental health resources, and only 38% felt that their teachers took mental health seriously.
• 47% of high school students surveyed reporting feeling anxious about returning to school, and only a quarter felt optimistic about returning to school.
• 25% of students who did not reach out to their school’s counseling services “said they did not reach out because they felt uncomfortable doing so.”

Schools have had to readjust their plans to incorporate many new protocols and directives in response to COVID-19, but providing mental health resources to support both students and staff should also be a part of those plans.

How Vector Solutions Can Help

Online Training The SafeSchools Online Training System includes expert-authored courses on mental health and wellness topics for your staff and students: Staff Courses

1. Bullying: Recognition & Response
2. Coronavirus: Managing Stress and Anxiety
3. Cyberbullying
4. Making Schools Safe & Inclusive for LGBTQ Students
5. Making Schools Safe & Inclusive for Transgender Students
6. Stress Management
7. Student Mental Health: Awareness, Intervention and Referral
8. Youth Suicide: Awareness, Prevention & Postvention

Student Courses

1. Bullying & Cyberbullying
2. Depression Awareness
3. Digital Citizenship
4. Good Decision Making
5. Healthy Relationships
6. Resolving Disagreements
7. Stress & Anxiety
8. Youth Suicide Risk

Anonymous Tip Reporting Our SafeSchools Alert Tip Reporting System allows students, staff, and parents to confidentially report safety concerns, including concerns about the health and well-being of peers, to your administration 24/7/365 via mobile app, text, phone, email, and website. To learn more about our SafeSchools Staff or Student Training or our Tip Reporting System, request a demo online. Other Resources from SafeSchools We have also published numerous blogs about the mental health crisis, including helpful resources and tips:

• Back to School: Getting Ahead of Bullying
• Bullying Prevention Month: Bullying & Cyberbullying Prevention Amid COVID-19
• Cyberbullying a Growing Concern
• Cyberbullying Prevention Tips to Help Keep Your School & Students Safe
• Cyberbullying: What Educators Need to Know
• Examining the Youth Suicide Crisis
• How Schools Can Increase Mental Health Support to Students
• Mental Health Awareness Month
• New Courses Support Social Emotional Learning as Student Return to School
• Student Mental Health a Growing Concern Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
• Suicide Awareness and Prevention
• Suicide Prevention Month: Supporting Schools’ Youth Suicide Prevention Efforts