By teacher guest blogger Kathryn Rose

There was always going to be fallout from living through a global pandemic. While it’s hard to quantify everything that was lost, educators are starting to see the results of bouncing between virtual and in-person learning environments.

It’s rough -- there’s no getting around it.

Masks may still be jammed into backpacks, hand sanitizer might flow freely, and you may be feeling a palpable urgency to cram as much into the school day as possible. How else are we going to close the gaping educational holes that have proliferated the past two years?

But before you dive straight into a textbook, allow yourself a deep breath and a reminder that everyone’s mental health is just as important as their physical health. (Or, dare I say, standardized tests.)

We have all been through so much and we know that there is now a youth mental health crisis sweeping across the country. Since 2020, the CDC reported a staggering increase in kids and teens being admitted into emergency rooms for serious suicide attempts, eating disorders, and aggressive behavior. By the fall of 2020, three separate professional organizations declared the state of children’s mental health a national emergency, on top of the raging pandemic.

And why wouldn’t it be?

Our children have lived through global social upheaval and a prolonged lack of in-person social interactions. Educators have become frontline workers, triaging and caring for students who have returned to school with significant anxiety, depression, and stress.In the fall of 2021, 76% of public schools reported an increase in concern over students showing up with trauma behaviors and responses.

Life might be returning to normal, but many kids are still struggling.

But there is good news. Many schools are taking a proactive approach to staff and student mental health.

Let’s start with screening. Put mental health at the top of the morning checklist. Spend several minutes each day checking in with students. Ask them how they are feeling and help them label emotions when you can.

Sometimes, a more formal assessment is necessary. If you suspect that a student is really struggling to keep up with school work, social commitments, or personal hygiene, connect with a care counselor that can help you assess the needs. Mental Health American also has a collection of online, free, and confidential validated screening tools. While a screening is not an actual diagnosis, it can be an important first step in catching mental health conditions early. Screening can help teachers and students understand whether behaviors are having a large enough impact to warrant a further conversation with a doctor or guardian.

Raise concerns to appropriate parties. You do not have to do this alone. If you sense that a particular student is struggling, say something. Notify the parents and get a nurse or social worker involved if you can. Many states have received funding for mental health services through the American Rescue Plan Act. The funding should trickle down into community-level support in the form of centers and care professionals in your area. Spend time researching what tools you have available inside and outside your classroom, and get to know the mental health providers in your district. It is always a good idea to post The National Sucide Prevention Lifeline in a visible location in your classroom as well. (Just type 988 into your phone and it will directly connect any caller with the hotline immediately.) The Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support to anyone in distress, loved ones caring for someone in trouble, or for professionals like yourself.

Adjust when necessary. This might mean lesson extensions or creative assessments that take away the stress of long tests or scantrons. If you sense that a particular exam or project is injecting stress into a classroom environment that is already difficult, consider finding a new way for students to show you what they have learned.

Seek out joy!Joy is a precious commodity, for you and your students! Prioritize the activities and lessons that bring a lightness into the assigned material.

And most importantly – take care of yourself! Educators have made the impossible possible over these past years – and at lightning speed. You are a frontline worker, a distributor of knowledge, and a friend. Ask your administrators what resources are available for your continued growth and healing. Take your wellness days and remember to check-in with yourself as well. You are worth it.

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About Kathryn Rose

Kathryn Rose is currently a virtual tutor and a museum resource teacher. She also freelances for businesses and startups in the education field. She has taught at her city’s botanic garden for 12 years and has been a Social Studies teacher in both private and public schools.