Mental health is just as important as an appropriate education for special education students. Many of these students have at least one learning disability, and, as such, they often face an array of additional troubles that may directly affect their emotions, self-esteem, and, ultimately, their overall wellness. Hence, it is very important for teachers and parents to join hands with the school to ensure that each of these students receives all the support that they require and are entitled to by federal law.
Why Mental Health Matters in Special Education
Thousands of students suffer from anxiety, stress, or depression. Many of them are special education students or may attend special education schools. They may experience frustration in learning which can seem so difficult and extremely overwhelming, particularly in social situations. These and many other conditions like autism, ADHD, or sensory processing issues make routine school life even more fraught with frustration, anxiety, and other challenges.
It is important to know students’ mental and emotional wellness, not just how they are doing in their academics. A child dealing with mental health issues is probably going to find it difficult to learn, establish friendships, or stay involved in school.
Signs That a Student Might Be Struggling
No two children are alike, but these are some general signs that may indicate a student is having a rough time coping with their mental health:
Becoming upset or irritable more easily than usual
Withdrawing from friends and activities they previously enjoyed
Struggling to concentrate during class
Major change in sleeping or eating patterns
Experiencing feelings of anxiety or being overwhelmed all the time
If students show any of these signs, it is important to check on how they are doing.
How to Support Students’ Mental Health
Create the Classroom as a Safe, Supportive Space
Classes usually feel safe when the teacher shows some attributes of a really positive, warm, and welcoming environment. Kindness, understanding, and open communication can be set at the start of the school year by teachers. Students should feel that they belong and their challenges are understood, not something that is a burden and they need to hide.
Teach Emotional Skills
Students also need to learn about managing their emotions and not only rely on academic lessons. Social-emotional learning helps students recognize their feelings, learn to cope with them, and foster a positive interaction with others. Mindfulness, journaling, and talking to other students are some of the ways to ensure that students realize and articulate their feelings positively.
Give Students Mental Health Resources
Schools should provide counselors or therapists with the tools to accommodate students in a situation where they need extra emotional support. However, activities as small as brain breaks, stress relief, or just a quiet area for students to regroup can really help make their lives less stressful.
Keep Parents in the Loop
Parents know their children best, hence, consistent communication between teachers and families is important. Whenever the teacher observes that the student is struggling at school, he or she can communicate with the parents to find out whether they have witnessed the same things at home. This way, it becomes easier to search for an effective solution for an individual student.
Individualize Support Based on Each Student’s Needs
All students are unique individuals. Thus, support for mental health should not just be idealized, but also implemented for each student’s unique needs and circumstances. Extra breaks during the day would benefit some students while others would be better off using that time for individual counseling. These personalized learning plans should take into consideration the academic and emotional needs of students to truly help them succeed in all aspects for life.
Support Matters
Supporting mental health in special education is not just a case of knowing which students are the ones who need help. It’s about building a safe, valued, and understood environments around them every single day. Having teachers, parents, and schools join together to ensure the emotional wellbeing of students would be a major step forward in delivering quality education to all students.
Supporting Mental Health in Special Education: What Teachers and Parents Can Do
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.
Mental health is just as important as an appropriate education for special education students. Many of these students have at least one learning disability, and, as such, they often face an array of additional troubles that may directly affect their emotions, self-esteem, and, ultimately, their overall wellness. Hence, it is very important for teachers and parents to join hands with the school to ensure that each of these students receives all the support that they require and are entitled to by federal law.
Why Mental Health Matters in Special Education
Thousands of students suffer from anxiety, stress, or depression. Many of them are special education students or may attend special education schools. They may experience frustration in learning which can seem so difficult and extremely overwhelming, particularly in social situations. These and many other conditions like autism, ADHD, or sensory processing issues make routine school life even more fraught with frustration, anxiety, and other challenges.
It is important to know students’ mental and emotional wellness, not just how they are doing in their academics. A child dealing with mental health issues is probably going to find it difficult to learn, establish friendships, or stay involved in school.
Signs That a Student Might Be Struggling
No two children are alike, but these are some general signs that may indicate a student is having a rough time coping with their mental health:
If students show any of these signs, it is important to check on how they are doing.
How to Support Students’ Mental Health
Create the Classroom as a Safe, Supportive Space
Classes usually feel safe when the teacher shows some attributes of a really positive, warm, and welcoming environment. Kindness, understanding, and open communication can be set at the start of the school year by teachers. Students should feel that they belong and their challenges are understood, not something that is a burden and they need to hide.
Teach Emotional Skills
Students also need to learn about managing their emotions and not only rely on academic lessons. Social-emotional learning helps students recognize their feelings, learn to cope with them, and foster a positive interaction with others. Mindfulness, journaling, and talking to other students are some of the ways to ensure that students realize and articulate their feelings positively.
Give Students Mental Health Resources
Schools should provide counselors or therapists with the tools to accommodate students in a situation where they need extra emotional support. However, activities as small as brain breaks, stress relief, or just a quiet area for students to regroup can really help make their lives less stressful.
Keep Parents in the Loop
Parents know their children best, hence, consistent communication between teachers and families is important. Whenever the teacher observes that the student is struggling at school, he or she can communicate with the parents to find out whether they have witnessed the same things at home. This way, it becomes easier to search for an effective solution for an individual student.
Individualize Support Based on Each Student’s Needs
All students are unique individuals. Thus, support for mental health should not just be idealized, but also implemented for each student’s unique needs and circumstances. Extra breaks during the day would benefit some students while others would be better off using that time for individual counseling. These personalized learning plans should take into consideration the academic and emotional needs of students to truly help them succeed in all aspects for life.
Support Matters
Supporting mental health in special education is not just a case of knowing which students are the ones who need help. It’s about building a safe, valued, and understood environments around them every single day. Having teachers, parents, and schools join together to ensure the emotional wellbeing of students would be a major step forward in delivering quality education to all students.
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