Sixty-two percent of superintendents and teachers say they’re concerned about the impact of student mental health on academic performance. Here’s how leaders can intervene.
Student mental health struggles lead to other problems: disruption in classrooms, strained budgets and educator burnout, a new survey of more than 700 parents, educators and school administrators surveyed by Huddle Up suggests. Most alarmingly, the report reveals that 71% of parents report their child has missed at least one day of school per month due to mental health or stress.
“Student mental health is no longer a peripheral concern—it is now a central academic and operational crisis,” the report reads. As a result, 71% of superintendents say student mental health is their top concern, while 62% directly connect the issue to declining academic performance.
Special education directors say mental health is an even more complex issue in their field. Many mental health challenges are intertwined with developmental delays and learning differences. Yet, a shortage of trained professionals and underfunded services has left districts unable to provide the support needed to address students with Individualized Education Programs.
This issue has also led to an increase in behavioral disruptions, teacher burnout and costly staff turnover, with some districts reporting replacement costs of more than $20,000 per teacher, the report suggests.
However, the researchers offer several opportunities for intervention. Virtual therapy, social-emotional learning programs and creative activities like art and music are proven methods highly favored among parents and families.
For instance, 80% of parents who used virtual mental health services for their children reported positive results, a sign that virtual care could mitigate the risk of things like absenteeism and classroom disruptions.
The report also recommends that policymakers and school leaders treat student mental health as a foundational part of education policy, not merely a side issue.
“We can no longer silo mental health,” the report concludes. “It’s an academic issue, a budget issue, and an urgent call to action.”
Read the full report here.
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