Student anxiety is almost inevitable in today’s times as they are placed under pressure from parents, teachers and peers. This can include pressure to achieve, pressure to fit in with the crowd and often pressure placed on them in home circumstances that are far from ideal.
Mental health plays a big role in students’ achievement at school, and the wise teacher identifies problems and intervenes. Teachers today are given the training and support they need to identify problems in children and young people who are battling with mental health issues. Fortunately, many schools today also have dedicated social workers who counsel and educate children and young adults.
Mental health is an increasing concern
Statistics released by the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) state that:
- One in six children in the age group 6 to 17 suffers from a mental health issue every year.
- 50% of lifetime mental illness begins at the age of 14.
- The leading cause of death in children aged 10 to 14 is suicide.
- Students aged 6 to 17 with mental or emotional problems are more likely to repeat a grade.
These concerning figures serve to remind us that mental health is a reality in our lives today and that the stigmas of the past no longer apply — poor mental health needs to be taken very seriously.
Pressure and anxiety in the classroom
Anxiety in children and teens can be due to many factors: issues at home, pressure to perform in class, embarrassment if they are not performing, bullying on the playground and teenage dating issues, among others.
When children flock into the classroom, they are seldom focused on the lesson ahead. They jostle and joke, laugh and chat, daydream or ponder a problem at home or with a friend. There are many methods that teachers can use to calm their pupils down and prepare for the lesson ahead. Doing some deep breathing or a short mindfulness exercise with the students can do wonders to bring their focus back to the present. When appropriate, teachers can play music or show a video clip that is relevant to the lesson.
Below are some signs that help teachers identify anxiety issues in some children that are often an indication of a bigger problem.
Inattentiveness and restlessness can be indications of anxiety, but they are also symptomatic of behavioral disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Mood changes and increased disciplinary problems at school such as disruptive behavior, which could include throwing tantrums or being aggressive, is often a sign of anxiety but can also be an indication of a behavioral disorder.
Frequent ailments and attendance problems may also be an indicator of anxiety. When children regularly find reasons not to attend school — usually due to headaches or nausea — and are reluctant to return to school after a holiday or illness, there is usually underlying anxiety, such as underperformance in class or bullying on the playground.
Learning disorders can also cause anxiety in students, particularly in the period before the disorder has been diagnosed. The student may feel stupid and inadequate without realizing that there is a reason for their inability to keep up with their peers.
When students avoid socializing or group work, it may be an indication that they feel inadequate in some way.
School counselors and the role they play
When teachers suspect that a student may have a problem with their mental health or be suffering from anxiety issues, they should call on a school counselor. School counselors foster a culture of mental wellbeing in the school environment and educate both teachers and students on how to improve their wellbeing. Not all schools have a resident counselor, but students can be referred to an independent counselor if required. School counselors are licensed by the state in which they are employed, and most states require a master’s degree to qualify for employment at a school.
School counselors are there to support students’ academic, social and mental development, helping them to overcome any feelings of inadequacy or shyness.
Educational facilities have come to the realization that educating students on mental health issues and the possible interventions that can play a role in reducing the instances of anxiety suffered by students. If nothing else, education can help individuals recognize their symptoms or those of their friends and encourage them to seek help. Education that is open and honest reduces the stigma that is a major deterrent when students should be seeking help but are afraid to do so.
Interventions provided by school counselors
School counselors conduct education in schools, covering subjects such as mental health issues, career guidance and substance abuse. They teach students various life skills and develop their sense of responsibility and self-confidence. They help students with their subject choices and decisions about their future studies, and when the time comes, guide them through the college application process.
Teachers also seek guidance from their school counselor in matters such as classroom management or dealing with various religious, ethnic and cultural groups. School counselors may also find themselves in a position of mediation in conflict situations between students and teachers.
Children struggling to cope with problems at home receive counseling, and school counselors may perform home visits to support children who need additional care. They sometimes counsel parents when appropriate and help them with services such as housing and food programs, referring them to nongovernmental or state-run facilities where available.
They advocate for the mental health and emotional needs of students and their families to be addressed. School counselors do not provide long-term counseling services but will refer students to professional counselors if necessary and follow up on their progress.
If you are concerned about mental health in young people and want to help build a better future for them. If you have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, you could consider furthering your education with an online Master of Education in School Counseling from a reputable institution such as St. Bonaventure University. With placement support in your local area and 100% online coursework, this program helps you gain the necessary skills to help students of all ages overcome the challenges they face each day and guide them toward becoming successful and happy adults. This online program is designed to build an individual’s skills in various sectors, including cultural competencies, communication, critical thinking, and business counseling, to provide one with the best possible skill set for a career in school counseling.
Mental health and anxiety interventions
Below are some of the methods that school counselors use in their interactions with students on all levels both through general training for all students and specialized attention for those who are battling with mental health issues.
Peer-to-peer support
Children and young people often find it easier to talk to someone their own age than to discuss their problems with an older person in authority. This is why peer support groups are often more conducive to successful outcomes than counseling that is conducted by an adult.
Volunteer peer mentors are selected by their school counselors and undergo comprehensive training on how to conduct mentoring and counseling. It’s a win-win situation as the peer mentor receives training and the students receive assistance from their peers.
Peer mentors are good communicators who learn how to identify anxiety and mental health issues and how to counsel and interact with their peers. They deliver mental health and emotional support to their fellow students, instilling confidence in them and empowering them to deal with their problems.
Schools and colleges are ideal settings for providing support to the younger generation. School peer programs may be structured so that everyone in the class can participate, interacting and supporting one another in a learning environment. Alternatively, peer support can take place in small groups or one-on-one sessions.
There are different forms of peer support, such as peer mentoring, peer coaching, peer listening and buddying. Mentoring can be run by individual mentors, or in the case of regular group sessions, more than one mentor can be involved over time.
Mentor wellbeing sessions can be arranged where the mentor arranges training on topics such as bullying or building self-confidence. These sessions could take place in a school environment or a lunchtime club, and the aim is to provide mentoring for interested children or targeted groups. Peer support can also be arranged for an entire classroom of children. Training-based programs and community-based programs can be arranged for larger groups, and today, online support is a possibility too.
Some school counselors create a buddy system in the school where one of the existing students pairs up with a new student to make them feel welcome and show them around.
Group counseling
Counseling students in a group has many benefits and has been shown to improve academic, social and emotional issues. Students who are reluctant to discuss their problems with a teacher or counselor often find it easier to express themselves in a group of like-minded fellow students. When they participate in group discussions and realize that they are not alone and, in some instances, are better off than some of their peers, they will begin to support their peers. Students acquire a sense of belonging as they work together in their group, identifying their different problems and their causes, and work on finding solutions for each other’s particular needs. With their counselor acting as a guide in the background, students become more outspoken and often form lasting friendships within the group.
Mental health and nutrition
Nurturing a healthy mind includes good nutrition and self-care. A healthy mind requires the regular intake of vitamins and minerals for proper functioning, and without this, problems are likely to occur.
Unfortunately, not all families have access to healthy options when it comes to food, and often, busy parents regularly feed their families food that has little nutrition and large quantities of sugar and other harmful substances.
School counselors can educate students on how to stay healthy and try to identify students who don’t have access to nutritious meals. This situation can be improved by putting families in touch with organizations that provide food to underprivileged families.
Qualities that make school counselors successful
School counselors possess several qualities that enhance their interactions with students. Empathy, honesty and consistency go a long way towards making students feel comfortable during counseling. Even when not in total agreement with what the student is saying, counselors should maintain eye contact and be aware of their body language to avoid intimidating or discouraging the student from talking openly.
By coaching students to think critically and analyze their situations, counselors encourage them to identify the underlying problems and come up with solutions of their own. A little prompting from the counselor may be necessary in situations where the answer is not that obvious. A counselor can reframe the problem and ask the student what advice they would offer to a friend in the same situation.
Counselors use open-ended questions to draw students into conversation. They can help students set goals for themselves, helping them to break the problem down into smaller sections with achievable goals. By doing this, students become more motivated as they achieve their goals.
Counselors can help students recognize their negative thoughts, overgeneralizations and dramatizations as destructive habits and direct them towards more positive thoughts.
Students and their challenges
Friendships and social standing are important to us all. Friendships are great, but things can go wrong, and learning how to handle conflict is all part of growing up. It may sound trivial, but many children do not receive basic coaching at home and do not know how to interact socially other than what they pick up at school. Teaching young people how to conduct themselves socially is very important and something that is often taken for granted. Etiquette, consideration for others, social responsibility and how to react in situations of conflict are all learned behaviours.
Being accepted socially and fitting in with the crowd are significant factors in a young person’s mental wellbeing, but when things go wrong, it can be devastating. Children and young adults need to be coached on how to deal with rejection and loneliness. They need to be able to see their value as individuals and recognize their strengths.
Romantic breakups, bullying and bad family situations can cause students to act out of character, and the cause is often not obvious to teachers and school counselors. Students who suddenly start playing up, become moody, don’t complete their lessons or become disruptive in class are usually battling with something that they cannot handle on their own. It takes a sensitive and empathetic conversation with a peer or someone in authority to find out the cause of the unhappiness so that the correct intervention can be put in place.
A student referral form can be created for use by teachers when they want to refer a student for counseling, but more importantly, a self-referral form should be made available to students who recognize a need for counseling in themselves or a friend. Self-checkup exercises for children to assess their own self-esteem and mental wellbeing can also be useful in identifying problems.
School counseling as a career: Challenges and rewards
Helping children in need can be both challenging and, in some circumstances, emotionally draining. However, if you are able to bring about positive change in at least one young life, then your efforts have not been in vain. The challenges are many, but life would be dull without something to keep us on our toes. All children deserve their very best shot at life, and school counselors help to make that happen.
