The holidays are a wonderful time of year. But they can also be a difficult time for many students. The last year has shown us that the state of our mental health at any age is incredibly fragile. According to the CDC, 40% of US adults report having struggles with mental health.

COVID19 has impacted all of us regardless of age, but the younger population in the US has had to deal with particular disruptions in their daily lives. Being an adolescent comes with changes both mentally and physically, so it’s not surprising that dealing with a global pandemic has caused many students to feel mentally and emotionally overwhelmed.

We are in the industry of education which gives us the opportunity to work with youth on a daily basis. We have used research-backed methods to help students with their mental health. Read on for some tips on helping to improve your student’s mental health this holiday season and beyond.

How to Help Improve Your Student’s Mental Health

Create Open Lines of Communication

As educators, we have a responsibility to help guide and teach students both academically and personally. At times it can be difficult to notice the warning signs of mental health problems in students because they are going through so many natural changes.

An important thing to consider when trying to help a student with mental health is communication. Let your student know that they can feel comfortable communicating and expressing themselves about their mental health. Creating an open line of judgment-free communication will help your student feel safe to talk about their mental health struggles.

Support your student by validating their feelings if and when they do come to you expressing mental or emotional issues. Listening is an often forgotten but incredibly important part of open communication. Give your student the space to talk out their feelings without jumping in or interrupting.

Here at BlueSky, we practice Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) which is the concept that developing the social and emotional learning competencies in students will help to foster positive mental health and social skills as a part of their education. Social-Emotional Learning builds students’ emotional awareness and emotional management skills so they are better equipped to communicate their feelings and be responsible for their success in school and life.

Practice Mindfulness and Anxiety Management

A 2020 Yale University study found that when students learn techniques like mindfulness, breathwork, and meditation, their overall well-being and their mental health improves. This is because those techniques are proven beneficial for managing stress and anxiety.

Anxiety management at times will include medication prescribed by a doctor and that should be taken seriously. But some forms of mental stress can be decreased by daily or weekly mindfulness practices either along with medication or on their own.

The practice of mindfulness has become somewhat of a buzzword and can be vague in meaning. But it simply means taking inventory of how you’re feeling in the moment and doing things like breathing to calm your mind.

Simple mindfulness practices that you can teach your students to help with anxiety or mental health struggles include:

• Reciting positive affirmations
• Practicing deep intentional breathing
• Journaling
• Practicing meditation
• Nature walks

Prioritize Movement

Physical movement has been shown to be connected to our mental health. Even simple physical movement like walking or stretching can be beneficial to a student’s mental health and emotional health. A study by Harvard Health in 2016 showed the benefits of different types of exercise and their connection to mood disorders and general mental health.

The study found that regular aerobic exercise was effective in reducing anxiety by building the brain’s tolerance for common symptoms of anxiety and making the “fight or flight” system less reactive. It also found that meditative movement like yoga or tai chi can alleviate symptoms of depression.

Middle school and high school students can sometimes find it difficult to manage their mental health or emotional health. Encourage your student to find a simple movement or meditation practice that they enjoy that can in turn help them to better manage their mental health. Support them by creating an open line of communication and allowing them to express their feelings.

If you’re curious about how we support our students’ mental health at BlueSky, check out our website or contact us today!