How to Help When Your Student Needs Mental Health Support
Whether you’re a school counselor, teacher or administrator, we know your students are your top priority. You want to see them succeed, so it can be tough when you think their mental wellness may be shifting in a negative direction and affecting their education or other areas of life.
If you believe one of your students is struggling from anxiety, depression, substance abuse or another mental health challenge, you’ve come to the right place.
At Connections Wellness Group, we understand your desire to lead your students along the right path to a better future. We have numerous programs and services available to support the treatment of a range of diagnoses and challenges. We also offer a monitored school environment that enables students to continue their classwork at our facilities without falling behind at school. CWG’s comprehensive care includes accelerated therapy programs and psychiatric services, with both in-person and virtual options available for adolescents and adults.
From how to recognize the signs that a student needs more than talk therapy, to tips for talking to children, teens and families about the support services available to them, you’ll find resources here to walk you through these tough yet life-changing moments.
For more information about our services, please email us.
Signs Your Student Needs Help: What to Watch for in the Classroom
As you probably know, your students may not realize when they could benefit from more help, and even when they do, they may be scared to ask for it. Some of the signs they may be struggling can be subtle. Here are some key signs that indicate a child or teen may be suffering from mental health challenges:
- Dramatic drop in attendance or grades: These are the two biggest signs that something else is going on, so if you notice a sudden change in a student’s academics or school attendance, don’t wait to talk to them or their parents.
- Withdrawn from school or peers: When a student exhibits a noticeable decrease in interest in daily activities or socializing with peers, this may be a sign of depression or another mental health challenge.
- Substance use: Dependence on drugs or alcohol to cope with emotional distress may stem from an underlying mental health challenge.
- Anxiety and panic attacks: Frequent, intense feelings of anxiety or panic that interfere with daily life often mean a student should seek more support. Anxiety and panic disorders can impact a person’s ability to function at school and in their relationships.
- Behavioral changes: Sudden or extreme changes in behavior or mood swings can be a sign of a mood disorder, personality disorder or substance use disorder.
- Family pressures: In some cases, there may be signs that the parents need more support, in addition to the students. They may place overwhelming expectations on their child, been involved in past trauma, or have relationship problems that impede on the child’s life.
- Self-harm or suicidal thoughts: If suicidal thoughts are creeping in or there is any indication of self-harm, this is a critical sign a student should seek immediate help. Please speak to their parents right away and recommend they seek professional help as soon as possible. CWG can offer same-day and walk-in assessments, but even if it’s not through our team, we urge them to seek mental health services right away. They can also call a crisis hotline like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988).
This is not an exhaustive list, but rather some of the main signs an individual could be struggling with their mental health. If you have any concerns with these signs or believe a patient is experiencing other mental health issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out so we can provide more support.
How to Talk to Students and Families About Mental Health Care
Mental health is not always an easy topic to approach. We need to reduce the stigma around discussing it while also understanding these can be difficult and nuanced conversations. Here are our tips for speaking to students and families:
- Let them know they are not alone.
One of the most important things you can do in this role is help students and their parents understand they are not alone on this path. It’s not uncommon for children and teens to seek mental health support. - Reduce the stigma around mental health services.
Tell them there is no shame in asking for help. Seeking therapy, medication or other services for their struggles is actually the easiest path to recovery. - Urge them not to wait. The earlier we can work with our patients to combat the issues that are causing concern, the better. It is important to seek treatment before further escalations in behavior and other challenges. Clinicians at CWG and other providers can step in before behaviors get worse, which will lead to an easier treatment plan and recovery.
- Assure them it’s ok to pause regular schooling, as education options are available. It’s natural for parents to be concerned with their child’s education, but stepping away from their school for a short time to get help does not mean they will end up behind their classmates. At CWG, we have dedicated spaces for independent coursework to provide a quiet environment that is monitored by staff. to alleviate the stress over makeup work or credits. Our school team also works with teachers, counselors and families to build a comprehensive transition plan. In Tennessee, CWG works closely with various school districts through homebound services to ensure students can maintain their education uninhibited.
- Consider their potential barriers. School, finances and transportation are the main barriers we see for families considering treatment, though much of this hesitation stems from misinformation. It is important for families to understand there are options available to them. For instance, CWG’s school program allows students to stay on top of school work while getting treatment, it accepts a range of insurance plans and offers virtual therapy for students that might be hindered by transportation.
Where to Turn for Support
Benefits of Accelerated Therapy Programs: IOP/PHP
Connections Wellness Group’s range of mental health treatment options are primarily focused around our intensive outpatient program (IOP) and partial hospitalization program (PHP). With in-person and virtual therapy options, our accelerated outpatient programs are flexible and designed to meet your students wherever they’re at in the healing process.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
IOP provides structured, intensive care three to four hours per day, while still enabling patients to maintain part of their daily routines. Many patients “graduate” to an IOP after finishing a PHP. Benefits include:
- Structure yet flexibility: Patients can attend therapy sessions while giving them time to practice their coping skills and may continue to participate in work, school and/or family commitments.
- Supportive environment: Regular group therapy and individual counseling sessions offer a supportive space and community.
- Skill development: Patients are given the knowledge, strategies and opportunity to manage their mental health symptoms.
Partial Hospital Programs (PHP)
PHP offers a higher level of care and programming than IOP, which is ideal for patients who need more intensive support without full hospitalization. Benefits include:
- Comprehensive care: Access to a wide range of therapeutic services, including medical and psychiatric evaluations.
- Structured schedule: Daily programming ensures consistent, intensive treatment.
- Holistic approach: Integration of various therapeutic modalities to address mental, emotional and physical health.
In addition to and in collaboration with IOP and PHP, here are some of the other mental health services and programs available through CWG that may be beneficial to your patients:
A Path to Healing: Next Steps for Students and Families
You are in a role to guide your students down the right path when they’re lost along the journey. The next step is talking to your student or their family about the services available to them. We would be honored if Connections Wellness Group ends up on the list of options you mention to them, but more than anything, we just want to know they get support wherever they need it.