Attention: State and District Leaders, School Administrators, Educators, Student Support Personnel, Parents, and Education Stakeholders
The U.S. Department of Education is hosting a webinar series to address hot topics that are on the top of educators’ minds. After sharing federal updates, the series features lessons learned and best practices from faculty, staff, schools, districts, institutions of higher education, and other places of educational instruction. It also shares a variety of useful resources.
In recognition of National Mental Health Awareness Month and on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) invites you to join our next webinar, Supporting Student Mental Health: What Works In Schools.
Supporting Student Mental Health: What Works In Schools
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
3:00 – 4:30 pm ET
According to the CDC’s newly released 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), 1 out of every 3 high school students reported experiencing poor mental health during the pandemic. Since returning to school, 2 out of every 5 students felt emotional distress during the past year and 1 out of 10 students attempted suicide during the past year. These are sobering findings; but there are actions we can take to address poor mental health, emotional distress, and risk of suicide.
In this webinar, we learned about the most recent YRBS data and what it tells us about the mental health of today’s youth. We payed particular attention to what the data is telling us about the experiences of girls and students who identify as LGBQ+. We discussed the importance of connectedness and prevention work to support student well-being, and we will learn about interventions and programming school mental health systems are engaging in to support mental health. We heard from several practitioners from rural and urban settings who will share the strategies they are using to improve student mental health in their districts and schools.
Speakers/Panelists
- Cindy Carraway-Wilson, Training Specialist, National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE)
- Dr. Kathleen Ethier, Director, Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Dr. Sharon Hoover, Professor, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Co-Director, National Center for School Mental Health; Director, NCTSN Center for Safe Supportive Schools, MD
- Brittani Kindle, Mental Health Program Manager, Office of Student Health and Wellness, Chicago Public Schools, IL
- Booker Marshall, LGBTQ+ and Sexual Health Program Manager, Office of Student Health and Wellness, Chicago Public Schools, IL
- Erik Martinez, Manager I, Focal Services [Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, LGBTQ+ Student Services, Students & Families Experiencing Homelessness (SAFEH), Refugee & Immigrant Solidarity in Education (RISE-SF)], Student and Family Services Division, San Francisco Unified School District, CA
- Dr. Michelle Warren, Director, Mental Health Services, Osage County Interlocal Cooperative, OK
Webinar Materials
Related Resources
NCSSLE
- In Session Podcasts, NCSSLE
- Mental Health Webpage, NCSSLE
- Suite of Resources to Promote Student Mental Health, NCSSLE
- Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package, NCSSLE
Federal
- Youth Risk Behavior Survey MMWR Supplement, CDC
- What Works In Schools Program, CDC
- YRBSS Results, CDC
- Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011-2021, CDC
- School Connectedness Helps Students Thrive, CDC
- What Can Schools Do?, CDC
- Supportive School Health Policies and Practices and Psychosocial Health Outcomes
- Guiding Principles for Creating Safe, Inclusive, Supportive and Fair School Climates
NCSMH
- National Center for School Mental Health
- School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation (SHAPE) System, National Center on School Mental Health
- NASP-NCSMH School-Community Partnerships to Support School Mental Health, National Center on School Mental Health
- Advancing Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems: Guidance from the Field, National Center on School Mental Health
School District & Other
- LGBTQ Student Services, San Francisco Unified School District
- SFUSD Wellness Center Initiative, San Francisco Unified School District
- LGBTQ+ Supportive Environments, Chicago Public Schools
- Mental Health, Chicago Public Schools
- CPS Youth Mental Health Leadership Summit, Chicago Public Schools
- Mental Health and Schools: Best Practices to Support Our Students, The Baker Center
- Is your child missing school due to anxiety?, Attendance Works
Please contact NCSSLE if you have any questions. We look forward to sharing this information with you and hearing about the important work you are doing in your schools, communities, and states to meet the needs of students and staff.
More on the Lessons from the Field Webinar Series
To access archived materials from previous webinars and to find out what is coming next, go here.