Helping provide students with resources to have an equal opportunity to succeed is nothing new for schools. However, in 2023 there are more needs, particularly mental health deficiencies, needing to be addressed than even a few years ago.
Knowing what to say or how to connect with kids to let them open up about the difficulties they are facing can be challenging, but doing so is important to support kids’ mental wellness.
Kids do not always verbally express what is going on with them, especially if they do not know how. This can lead to behaviors adults find to be difficult, but educators say the behaviors are a form of communication themselves. Often they are symptoms of more troubling issues impacting students' mental well-being.
Addressing mental health and substance use continue to be among the top needs in the community health assessments nonprofit hospitals provide. Suicide is a particular focus that data show is creeping into the thoughts of younger and younger people, even before the age of 10.