The social-emotional student and teacher

As I drove to work, I made a mental list of all the tasks that needed completion. The list was always longer than the amount of time I had in hand; nevertheless, there was no choice but to prioritise and hack away at the list. I am always one of the first ones to arrive at work, and I prefer getting that time to myself to get organised before the students and staff barge in. As I pulled into the parking lot, I recognized a parent pacing by the front door. I parked and walked towards her and realised she was crying. I quickly opened the door and took her to my room. It took her a few minutes to compose herself, and then she shared that her son, my student, 11-year-old Aaron(name changed), attempted suicide last week. I listened in shock while she shared that he was not happy at school or home, felt lonely, and took this desperate step to end it all. Thankfully he was saved and was now home from the hospital. At school, he seemed happy, so it was a shock to us that he tried to take this extreme step. He was now ready to return to school, and his mother wanted to know what we could do to help them. She shared that she had no idea how to help him and was coming to us to seek help to guide him through his issues.?

In the past few years, the diaspora around us has changed completely. The world is now referred to as pre-covid and post-covid. Much has changed in these years. The world Health organisation has declared Mental Health disorders a priority illness for this century. WHO estimates that roughly 56 million Indians suffer from depression, and 38 million suffer from some anxiety disorder. It is predicted that owing to the pandemic and its influential factors, the number of patients with mental illnesses will touch 20 percent in the country. The younger population suffers from developmental disorders, and the older population falls prey to depression and anxiety. The WHO estimated that India's economic loss because of the prevalence of mental health was $1.03 trillion between 2012-2030. With these statistics in hand, it becomes all the more important for educational institutions to go the extra mile to address these issues at schools early on.?

We have all heard of an 'Aaron' around us who has been battling mental stress. Mental health today is not just an affliction for adults; it has also affected children equally. Children's mental health problems are primarily treatable if identified and appropriately diagnosed. Unfortunately, mental illnesses in most children go unrecognised and untreated. Schools, teachers, parents, and friends need to recognise any disturbing changes in behaviour and address them immediately. As an administrator, one of my priorities was to create an avenue for all stakeholders to be able to connect, share and find help. At our school, we had several outlets where students and staff got an opportunity to take care of their emotional needs. Here are some practices we adopted at our school that provided a haven for everyone.

Telehealth

Telehealth consists of a resource team of licensed school psychologists, clinical social workers, and mental health clinicians that partner with schools and nonprofits to provide mental health support to school-aged children. The school identifies the at-risk student and behaviors of concern and recommends the student to therapy. After receiving consent to proceed with therapy from the student's parent/guardian, Telehealth provides individualised therapeutic support to address an at-risk student's social, emotional, and mental health needs. Interventions are designed to target behaviours and concerns. Sessions are conducted over a safe and secure video conferencing system that protects each student's privacy. This free service is also available for staff and parents.?

Friendship Clubs

?The clubs were initiated at our school to foster friendships and relationships among students. Students typically meet during their lunch break or after school to socialise and participate in teacher lead activities. They look forward to pizza parties, bubble shows, drum circle, puppy therapy, dance class, and much more at club meetings! Students can build genuine friendships and learn new social skills by having a safe and fun space to socialize. Students (s) with emotional needs are paired with their peers and work together to play board games, do neat art projects, play musical instruments, and participate in fitness exercises. These fun and interactive activities bridge awareness for students who often feel isolated and left out of school activities. We believe that students feel confident about their abilities and have the courage to make a difference in society when they have a greater sense of belonging.

Book Clubs

?During book clubs, students meet in small, heterogeneous groups to discuss a book that they have all read or listened to. By sharing their thinking, they build a richer understanding than any student could gain from independent reading alone. Book clubs bring a small group of students together to discuss a book each has chosen (from a limited selection). Students may sit in a circle of chairs or on the rug, but without a table between them. There are no barriers to communication. You facilitate the group to support the development of practical discussion skills, lift the level of discussion, and promote a deep understanding of the writer's and illustrator's craft.?

We also facilitated book clubs for teachers. Teacher book clubs help members learn more about literacy. They encourage teachers to experience professional development not as passive consumers of programs or approaches but as engaged learners inquiring into and reflecting on literacy goals. Further, they give teachers opportunities to engage in deep conversations, layer personal experiences with literacy learning and probe instructional issues on an extended basis. Most importantly, metacognitive thinking fills in the gap between teaching and learning.

Staff Social Meets

Social meets are crucial in fostering staff friendship and improving the school climate. When staff has a sense of belonging, they are more apt to work happily and not think of changing jobs. Most teachers are nesters and do not like change unless they are forced. The school and students benefit from the initiative by cultivating a friendly school culture. One of the things I did early on was quarterly staff meets that were just for socialising. The school staff met outside of work for wine and cheese, which allowed friendships to blossom, creating a community of a happy workforce.?

Peer Mediation Program

The Peer Mediation Program aims to help students develop relationships and communication skills in school and other areas of their lives. It is an excellent opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills, design solutions to conflicts, and learn to express their concerns constructively and peacefully. As peer mediators, students learn to listen without taking sides and help their classmates find answers and reach an agreement. They ask questions to help each person understand each side of the story and learn to enforce a code of conduct to encourage respect and confidentiality during the mediation process. In the process, students learn how to handle their own emotional needs, which is a skill that follows them into adulthood.?

As the world recovers from the pandemic, many in the field of education see an opportunity for an educational renaissance. There are many Aarons out there who are struggling, and we need to ensure enough support is available. Mental health and social-emotional learning have been central in conversations about schools' priorities. We have an opportunity now as educators to reflect, listen and apply lessons learned to create an education system that more consistently, equitably, and holistically supports all educators and children.