https://a.storyblok.com/f/64423/x/fa4cc4c5b3/we-teachers-module_mental-well-being_2021.pdf
WE Teachers is a free program that supports educators around the country by giving them training and materials to help them talk to their students about important social concerns. It helps kids develop into active, involved citizens and makes sure that instructors have access to the resources they need to thrive in the classroom, such as cutting-edge experiential learning methodologies.
The WE movement encourages people to use a charity foundation to make a difference in the world. Their initiatives center on service learning, trauma-informed practice, and resources for well-being that are available to all schools in the United States and around the world.
The program options help teachers by encouraging students to be their best selves and provide them the tools they need to become kind and future-ready citizens. They investigate and take action on important issues affecting their communities and the world through practical service-learning initiatives, such as access to clean water and bullying and the environment.
In their program they include common mental health challenges, warning signs of these challenges, and how educators can provide support for students who are struggling. For example, grief and bereavement can be normal for a child who is going through a loss. The warning signs of grief in a child include: long periods of sadness, profound emotional reactions, prolonged fear of being alone, sharp drop in school performance or refusal to attend school, repeated statements of wanting to join the deceased, acting much younger or reverting to earlier behaviors, or frequent physical complaints such as stomach aches and headaches. If you notice a student struggling with grief or bereavement you may provide support by asking them how they are doing, if they want to talk, and ask if they would like to talk with the guidance counselor.
Other common mental health challenges that are mentioned are: stress, loneliness and isolation, self-harm, subsistence use, self-esteem, body image issues, ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD, and more. Also included are healthy mental and emotional development by age classroom check-up tools.
All of these tools and information included are extremely helpful for educators who may not be familiar with mental health challenges. If I were to have a classroom, I would incorporate this program into my classroom and always try to be aware of my student’s behavior.