Mental Health Resources

SAD and other forms of depression can negatively impact all three of these developmental areas. Depressive symptoms affect energy, motivation, memory, and focus – all necessary for academic achievement. They can lead to “hibernating” and other forms of social withdrawal that affect both the quality of friendships and participation in activities that develop teamwork and the ability to navigate relationships with different types of people. And, perhaps most damaging of all, depression impacts one’s sense of self.

This is the time of year when teachers may need additional support to stay motivated – and to ensure their students do, too. Administrators have a vital role to play in helping teachers avoid the doldrums of the second half of the year and ensure that the months from January to June remain satisfying and productive for everyone.

While ordinary disappointments are part of any childhood, depression, severe anxiety, and thoughts of harming oneself are not. Alarmingly, these and other mental health issues are on the rise among our nation’s teenagers, leading experts to declare that America’s young people remain in the midst of a growing mental health crisis.

In today’s rapidly evolving educational environment, addressing the mental health needs of students is more critical than ever. School districts have traditionally focused on robust interventions for the most vulnerable students, but many are now expanding their attention to Tier 2 and Tier 1 programming within the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).

District leaders face the growing challenge of providing effective mental health care for students while managing limited budgets. One strategy for achieving both goals is returning students from costly outside therapeutic placements back into their home districts. By doing so, districts can reallocate dollars toward in-person, school-based, high acuity support for at-risk students.

School districts face the dual challenge of meeting students’ diverse mental health needs while responsibly managing district resources. One of the most significant opportunities for achieving both goals lies in evaluating and optimizing the annual expenditures on outside therapeutic placements.

Deepening our cultural sensitivity is an ongoing process, and it begins with recognizing our inherent and often unseen biases. Thus, as the winter holidays approach, it’s vitally important for educators to remember that not all students celebrate the same holidays.

In the face of unimaginable loss, leadership becomes much more than a bullet point on a job description. Despite their own grief and shock, school leaders are called upon to be a source of strength and compassion for students, for families, and for faculty and staff.

Occasional feelings of sadness or hopelessness are part of every child’s life. It is the persistence of these feelings that should raise a red flag for parents, educators, and pediatricians, signaling the need to assess a child for possible depression. Unlike anxiety, except in its more extreme and unrelenting forms, depression is not a normal part of life.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a behavioral disorder characterized by persistent patterns of angry, defiant, and hostile behavior. It can be extremely challenging to navigate life with ODD and it affects individuals and families alike.