Supporting Student Mental Health: A Complete Guide

Key Takeaways

• Students are at high risk for mental health challenges, with 40% experiencing persistent hopelessness and 1 in 10 having a suicide attempt.
• Teachers are often the first, best option for supporting student mental health, including identifying risk factors, proactively creating healthy classroom environments, and fostering open communication.
• Professional development is a key tool for getting educators the skills and strategies they need to create inclusive classrooms and manage common mental health issues facing students today.

Student mental health is an increasing concern for education professionals as new studies reveal how complex and nuanced the experiences of young people can be. Issues like identity, increased awareness of disorders like autism and ADHD, and the impact of social media have all added to developmental and performance-oriented challenges students face in the classroom.

The consequences of these realities are stark. According to a 2013-2023 survey by the CDC,  40% of students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and 1 in 10 has made a serious suicide attempt. Educators are often in the best position to spot struggles early, and they play a central role in creating successful classroom experiences for all their students.

Courses like Beyond the Classroom: Supporting Girls’ Mental Health During Puberty are just one of many powerful professional development options teachers can leverage to create better student outcomes. Here’s our complete guide to supporting student mental health and identifying serious risk factors in 2025/26.

Common Student Mental Health Challenges

There are many reasons students may struggle, and risk factors can differ based on age, gender, socioeconomic status, and genetic predisposition. Regardless of the demographics of your student population, educators need to be aware of a few broad categories of risk.

• Abuse. Teachers in all 50 states are mandatory reporters for signs of abuse, including sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and neglect.
• Illnesses and disorders. ADHD, ASD, dyslexia, physical disabilities, and chronic illness may all make classrooms stressful environments that are difficult to navigate.
• Academic pressure. Students who face extreme pressure to perform are at high risk for depression, anxiety, and suicide.
• Substance abuse. 41% of teens have used alcohol at least once, and 36% have experimented with drugs before they graduate.
• Social pressure. Bullying has dropped by a third in the past decade, but nearly 20% of students still face threats to their mental and physical well-being.
• Lack of support. Insufficient financial or emotional support affects all aspects of a young person’s life, and 5% of families face food insecurity.

Signs of Mental Health Risks in Students

Regardless of age, educators should be aware of the following potential indicators of mental health struggles in their students.

• Behavioral changes. When educators notice changes in behavior that can’t be accounted for by obvious factors, it may signal other stressors in their lives.
• Difficulty concentrating. Students who are preoccupied with difficult personal issues often struggle to concentrate in the classroom.
• Extreme changes in weight. Eating disorders affect 7% of people aged 12-18, and may result from a wide range of underlying causes.
• Loss of sleep. Students who are always tired may need to power down their screens, but it can also indicate serious mental health obstacles.
• Physical injuries. Young people hurt themselves all the time, but injuries that can’t be explained or are a source of shame could be signs of abuse.
• Emotional outbursts. Anger, irritability, crying, and atypical reactions may all indicate a student is experiencing depression, anxiety, stress, or other serious issues.

Supporting Mental Health in the Classroom

Educators are in a unique position to spot and report potential risk factors, but they can also take a proactive role in supporting student mental health. Here are some of the best ways teachers can make their classrooms safe spaces that promote student health and well-being.

Foster Communication and Connection

Mental health challenges often show up in the grade book, but that’s rarely the first sign there’s a problem. In many cases, a lack of outlets for discussion and empathy results in minor issues building into serious health risks.

Above all, classrooms should be judgment-free zones for discussion and healthy conversation. As a trusted adult, teachers may be the only option for sharing painful or difficult situations their students face.

Checking in regularly with students helps build rapport that can improve academics as well as foster open communication. Emphasize safety and security in conversations, but don’t set any false expectations. Make sure they know that, while you want to preserve their confidentiality, some things would need to be escalated, such as any risk for self-harm or harm to others.

Create an Inclusive Environment

Inclusive classrooms reflect the culture and identity of all students and promote healthy dialogues around these sensitive topics. Feeling isolated, discriminated against, or unrepresented can lead to disengagement, poor educational outcomes, bullying, and distrust of teachers and administrators. These challenges can result in an increased risk for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and feelings of isolation and hopelessness.

Creating a solid classroom management plan is the foundation of an inclusive classroom. A plan should be constructed with supporting student mental health in mind by promoting opportunities for dialogue and setting standards for respectful, inclusive behavior.

Creating Resilient Students

Unfortunately, academic environments will always come with some stress, and it’s as important to give students the tools and skills to be resilient as it is to watch for potential signs of struggling. In addition to monitoring student behavior and creating healthy classrooms, educators can cultivate resilience in several ways.

Self-Care

Students who are equipped with options and strategies for self-care are empowered to take an active role in their personal well-being. This can include learning how to take breaks, spotting the signs of stress, developing organizational and time-management skills, and taking an active approach to a healthy lifestyle.

Mindfulness

When students feel stressed, mindfulness techniques, breathwork, meditation activities, and various other holistic strategies can calm nerves and give them control over their physiological and psychological experience. This can be especially valuable for students with ASD and various other sensory issues that can quickly lead to being overwhelmed.

Communication Skills

How students communicate with others is just as important as the information they share. Every student has different standards and expectations that stem from their home environment. Learning to engage respectfully and empathetically with people of many different backgrounds is a life skill that promotes positive classroom experiences.

Supportive Services

Creating open lines of communication and a sense of safety in conversation could bring up challenges that would be best supported through professional services. Many schools have these resources on hand, and those that don’t often maintain relationships with these resources off campus.

Teachers should be familiar with procedures for engaging with professional support and developing IEPs. In many cases, these procedures are governed by local, state, or federal law. These statutes may require specific action involving administrators, parents, or the student to maintain confidentiality and safety.

Additionally, mentorship programs, sports, clubs, activities, or peer support groups can be immensely rewarding opportunities for connectedness and belonging. With a good relationship that encourages students to share interests and personal challenges, these simple solutions may completely change a student’s trajectory for the better.

Gear Up for Supporting Student Mental Health

Supporting student mental health requires an open mind that is willing to support a multi-pronged approach. These tactics extend beyond the traditional focus on academics by expanding to a more holistic approach to teaching.

Premiere provides educators in all roles and grade levels with highly relevant professional development to support a wide range of issues that impact student mental health. Our course library gives education professionals concrete tools and strategies for addressing the mental health challenges their students face.

All of Premiere’s award-winning coursework is created by industry experts and makes it easy to develop your career and meet your professional obligations on a timeline that matches your busy schedule.

FAQs

How can teachers support student mental health?

Teachers can support student mental health by creating classroom environments that foster communication and set healthy standards for student conduct. It’s also critical to be informed about the signs and symptoms of mental health struggles and engage with professional development opportunities to better understand common issues.

What is a teacher's main responsibility to a student with emotional or mental health problems?

Teachers have an obligation to create supportive, inclusive school environments that promote communication and positive interactions. This includes developing effective classroom management plans and creating IEPs alongside administrators and families. In cases of abuse, teachers are also mandatory reporters.

How can a teacher help a struggling student?

If a teacher notices a student is displaying signs of mental stress, they can attempt to engage with the student, promote mentorship opportunities, or speak to administrators or parents per school policy.