FORUMS

Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.

  • 47,612Members
  • 1,358,869Posts
  • 1,400,000Visitors
Educator's hub

Student Mental Health

Student Mental Health

Hi All,

I wanted to start a space on student mental health.

We've got a space for Education and Mental Health, but I think it's important to have a space dedicated to student mental health.

What are your experiences?

What do schools/places of education have in place to support students' mental health?

4 replies

1 - 4 of 4

In response to: Student Mental Health

Re: Student Mental Health

Trigger Warning: Youth Suicide

Content/trigger warning
I received some sad news today. A young person in Year 8 ended her life. This is a 13 year old.

This has devasted the whole community.

No one saw any red flags.

People are thinking, what could have been done to intervene?

If someone simply asked, Are you okay? Would it have made a difference?

What is in place to support the rest of the young people?

What was going on in the mind of this young person to go to that extreme?

It breaks my heart.

In response to: Re: Student Mental Health

Re: Student Mental Health

Hi @BPDSurvivor I can understand how tough that would have been. I have also lost a student to suicide and the impact that rippled through the community was broad. In some ways it spurred some action that had been slow in forming but I feel there are still children and families who don't have access to the supports that are needed. Every question you have is so valid and understandable, i wonder if the questions are also part of how it is so hard because we can never truly get answers.

Was your community and site able to access additional services? I hope you are doing ok.

In response to: Re: Student Mental Health

Re: Student Mental Health

Thanks for responding @Millieme . The whole community was devastated. They had additional supports, but it doesn’t ‘fix’ things I guess.

What’s even harder is that this school was locked down only the week before because a gang with machetes were after a student and this student ran back to school for refuge.

I guess it’s rocked the suburb because this area is a pretty affluent area and things like this have never happened in the past.

What’s going on?

Does social media have anything to do with it?

Right now, I’m just happy for a break. School holidays. I still have some school work to do, but I’m going to wait until next week to do it.

I spent most of today in the pool which i dont get to do much during the school term.

Hope all teachers and students get a pleasant break and get rejuvenated.

In response to: Re: Student Mental Health

Re: Student Mental Health

Sometimes the additional supports don't really stay long enough either and while the 'crisis' phase passes it doesnt get better for a long time. That would have been very scary as well to have an armed gang coming. But I think it says a lot that the student they were after was coming back to school for safety. Kids still, often, see schools as their safe place, though my experience over time is that schools are becoming less safe.
I am listening to an ebook at the moment called 'The anxious generation' by Jonathan Haidt. It's been very interesting and links some current ish research with how kids are changing. There is some research to say that growing brains are being physically changed due to exposure to screens and children are accessing so much less person to person play, including play where they can learn how to take risks in safe ways (climbing trees, trying different social skills). So much is changing.
I am glad you have some time to decompress now after so much has happened. I hope that you are able to reach out for professional supports to debrief if you need to.
1 - 4 of 4