Mental Health and Education
By Vivett Dukes & Dulce Flecha
#SafeSpaceConvos is a Twitter chat led by teacher Vivett Dukes as part of the Caring Classroom movement. These authentic conversations in education take place on alternating Mondays at 8:30 pm. Will you join the conversation?
Dulce Flecha is a Literacy Specialist student at the Teachers College committed to serving students coping with homelessness, trauma, and interrupted formal education. She has taught High School Special Education to recently-arrived immigrants and elementary education onsite at a New York City homeless shelter.
Questions
Q1: Have you ever discussed mental health with the parents/caregivers of your students? What challenges would you anticipate?
Q2: Have you ever attended professional development/professional learning on mental health?
Q3: What books, resources, or structures do you wish you had to learn more about mental health?
Q4: Are they any mental health resources you’d recommend to educators?
Q5: What structures does your school/organization have in place to support the mental health of your students? What structures do you wish were in place?
Highlights
Q1: Have you ever discussed mental health with the parents/caregivers of your students? What challenges would you anticipate?
A1) We're careful not to have discussions that might sound like armchair diagnoses, but discuss more in an "it might be interesting to investigate…" kind of way. I find it easier to talk to kids directly and give them resources to bring to their families! #safespaceconvos
— Lindsey Own (@LindseyOwn) May 8, 2018
A1Mental health is definitely something parents seem a lot more honest about these days, especially when their children are suffering/struggling. It's a challenge to bring up unrecognized behaviors for the first time as you never know how open people might be #safespaceconvos
— Mrs. Castner (@mcastner1) May 8, 2018
A1: I’ve had those convos w P/CGs. They’ve all been initiated by the P/CG. Some during P-T confs, some during IEP/504 meetings. I’m always aware of respecting S confidentiality & making sure to give the best info as possible. I also follow up & check in w the S #safespaceconvos
— Josh Thompson (@jthompedu) May 8, 2018
A1. One challenge I've experienced is the desire/need for in-person communication. I'd love to break down barriers for our families. So much is lost over email & by phone #SafeSpaceConvos
— Christie Nold (@ChristieNold) May 8, 2018
A1: Have had discussions about depression. Difficult to do.Requires 1st building trust/strong relationships w/ caregivers. #SafeSpaceConvos
— Michele Justus-Hobbs (@MicheleJustusHo) May 8, 2018
It can be difficult to know what to ask. Sometimes I’m afraid of asking the wrong question. I generally like to talk to counselors & admin first to gain context and background before questioning. #safespaceconvos
— Josh Thompson (@jthompedu) May 8, 2018
A1 This is pretty much my daily work. Different from Ts in that sense. Generally speaking most parents just want the best for their kid. Even when the info is tough to hear they are usually not blindsided by the info & can actually add more insight for us to help #SafeSpaceConvos
— Anthony Cinelli (@Mr_C_Counselor) May 8, 2018
A1: My role as the Special Educator meant that I had both close relationships with guidance staff and constant access to case files. Teaching onsite at the shelter also meant I had all the access in the world. I realize now how spoiled I was. #safespaceconvos
— Dulce-Marie Flecha (@DulceFlecha) May 8, 2018
Q2: Have you ever attended professional development/professional learning on mental health?
A2 We recently had mandated suicide prevention awareness training. The district is also invested in providing staff and students with mindfulness training and best practices. #safespaceconvos
— Mrs. Castner (@mcastner1) May 8, 2018
A2: the little I’ve learned about the impact of trauma and poverty on the brain has taught me how much more I have to learn! Vital to understand the impacts in order to advocate for the necessary supports! #SafeSpaceConvos
— Zachary Wright (@zfwright) May 8, 2018
A2: Had behavioral health w/in former bldg. Benefited from their presence. Such a great support for # of Ss we had in need #SafeSpaceConvos
— Michele Justus-Hobbs (@MicheleJustusHo) May 8, 2018
A2: Yes. In Austin ISD, we have had PD around mental health & also #SEL. I do think going forward, however, we need more exposure to MH iniatives & more opportunities for teachers to discuss and reflect #SafeSpaceConvos
— Tara Bordeaux (@Darkroom920) May 8, 2018
A2: Our district required a one-day Youth Mental Health First Aid training session. I’ve also engaged in my own PD in the area. I try to stay as informed as possible. #safespaceconvos
— Josh Thompson (@jthompedu) May 8, 2018
A2: Each staff meeting had opening w/behavioral health counselors housed in my bldg. Weekly email tips, on-site for ?s. #SafeSpaceConvos
— Michele Justus-Hobbs (@MicheleJustusHo) May 8, 2018
Our suicide prevention awareness training was the hardest PD I've ever attended… I had to go sit in the back of the room. HARD conversations, and we can't ever consider them "above our pay grade." But also seek support from those with more experience/training#safespaceconvos
— Lindsey Own (@LindseyOwn) May 8, 2018
A2: Current District had expert on trauma/adversity brain study professional available for several optional sessions. 👍 #SafeSpaceConvos
— Michele Justus-Hobbs (@MicheleJustusHo) May 8, 2018
It’s so important to understand mental health issues as their own separate entity. Conflation helps no one. Which also reminds me that “mental health” itself covers many distinct elements that each have their own specific considerations. #safespaceconvos https://t.co/8nrzlj8X96
— Josh Thompson (@jthompedu) May 8, 2018
I've found while both teaching at the public school and teaching onsite at the shelter that there is this nasty misunderstanding of culture that threads some of these diagnoses. #SafeSpaceConvos
— Dulce-Marie Flecha (@DulceFlecha) May 8, 2018
A2: Our district required a one-day Youth Mental Health First Aid training session. I’ve also engaged in my own PD in the area. I try to stay as informed as possible. #safespaceconvos
— Josh Thompson (@jthompedu) May 8, 2018
Q3: What books, resources, or structures do you wish you had to learn more about mental health?
A3. This feels hard to answer – I'm at the point of understanding that there is so much I don't know, yet I'm not clear exactly what it is I need to know. I'd love to hear about any favorite resources that folks are willing to share! #SafeSpaceConvos
— Christie Nold (@ChristieNold) May 8, 2018
I share with students something that I’ve been through personally to help connect with them. The fact is that I’m not a mental health care professional, but I am a human being who’s been through some things and an adult intheir life who cares. That helps. #SafeSpaceConvos https://t.co/gggfi7xyMh
— Vivett Dukes (@vivettdukes) May 8, 2018
A3: I wish I had more resources on how to deal with SBS issues, LGBTQ, depression. Also – more TIME. I sometimes feel inadequate to handle student problems when so many students need one-on-one time and there doesn’t seem enough time in the day! #SafeSpaceConvos
— Tara Bordeaux (@Darkroom920) May 8, 2018
A3: I wish I had thought of using mental health as a lens through which to analyze literature! Holden Caufield, Pecola Breedlove, Bigger Thomas. Great way of starting conversations. #SafeSpaceConvos
— Zachary Wright (@zfwright) May 8, 2018
That hits on my answer for Q3… We seriously need PD on de-stigmatizing mental health, how to broadly help parents de-stigmatize (aside from individual kid concerns), how to identify the right resource for the kid/parent/family for whatever stage they're at.#safespaceconvos
— Lindsey Own (@LindseyOwn) May 8, 2018
We need more training on mental health awareness and how it relates to specific communities. Students of color, homeless students, LGBTQIA+ students, students who have experienced various traumas…they each have their own specific needs. One size doesn’t fit all #safespaceconvos
— Josh Thompson (@jthompedu) May 8, 2018
A3 I feel like we need more training to help Ts understand that students with MH issues are suffering just as a student with a physical injury might. We make allowances for broken bones, concussions etc. but MH injuries are not treated with the same empathy. #safespaceconvos
— Mrs. Castner (@mcastner1) May 8, 2018
I agree! And the stigma around PD/school-wide training negatively affected my experience in with the one day we had. #safespaceconvos
— Clint Whitten (@TeacherWhitten) May 8, 2018
A3. I wish I had a better understanding of how mental health support is legislated, appropriated, and financed. It was only during the (FAILED) ACA repeal efforts that I learned how Medicaid funded mental health services in schools in some states. #safespaceconvos
— Cody Miller (@CodyMillerELA) May 8, 2018
Q4: Are they any mental health resources you’d recommend to educators?
A4 Sorry…I’ve got nothing. #SafeSpaceConvos
— Marian Dingle (@DingleTeach) May 8, 2018
A4: Youth Mental Health First Aid. For LGBTQIA+ students, the Trevor Project. I would also encourage you to ask other people in your building, esp for local resources. Being so close to Virginia Tech, we have multiple hotlines & resources. #safespaceconvos
— Josh Thompson (@jthompedu) May 8, 2018
A4 A great resource is getting yourself with a therapist if you can. We all have very layered, complex and busy lives often with our own baggage that we haven’t unpacked which gets in the way of us helping others sometimes #SafeSpaceConvos
— Anthony Cinelli (@Mr_C_Counselor) May 8, 2018
#safespaceconvos A3 I'd be interested in resources on mental health for teachers. I think I'd be better able to proactively and reactively address S mental health issues if I had structured experiences taking care of my own
— Melvin Peralta (@melvinmperalta) May 8, 2018
A4: I penned some thoughts for @edu_post on 4 main reasons school-based therapy works. #SafeSpaceConvoshttps://t.co/f6jCByU4Ex
— Jeff Baker (@Fight4TheYouth) May 8, 2018
A4: Work of Dr. Lori Desautels on trauma/adversity neuroscience/neurodiversity. #SafeSpaceConvos
— Michele Justus-Hobbs (@MicheleJustusHo) May 8, 2018
A4: Listen, I could do a whole thread on the resources that saved my work. Listen. Listen. Go to National Child Traumatic Stress Network. https://t.co/wIm76C6Kgu. @nctsn #safespaceconvos
— Dulce-Marie Flecha (@DulceFlecha) May 8, 2018
While we're talking about weaponized diagnoses, it's also worth mentioning that so-called conversion therapy (which is really just abuse) is still legal in most states: https://t.co/RnhUIVq5gL #safespaceconvos
— Cody Miller (@CodyMillerELA) May 8, 2018
A4: @GLSEN for LGBTQ and @ciscentraltx all students. CIS and @suki_atx has been an invaluable resource and support system for me when I have felt helpless as a teacher. #SafeSpaceConvos
— Tara Bordeaux (@Darkroom920) May 8, 2018
Q5: What structures does your school/organization have in place to support the mental health of your students? What structures do you wish were in place?
A5: we have a amazing school social worker. She saves lives. We need more of her. #SafeSpaceConvos
— Zachary Wright (@zfwright) May 8, 2018
A5: Storytime. I had an open-door policy with parents. They could pull me whenever, chill with me in my office, and say anything. Yell at me if they wanted to. I didn't take it personal. #SafeSpaceConvos
— Dulce-Marie Flecha (@DulceFlecha) May 8, 2018
A5 I wish we had more dedicated support staff available to help students. Ts can't always address what students need and sending them to have what equates to a time out doesn't always address what a student really needs at that moment. #safespaceconvos
— Mrs. Castner (@mcastner1) May 8, 2018
A5: We have great counselors & admin who help as well as teams that evaluate & assist. We also have some awesome Ts who make a commitment to develop relationships with Ss. Ts, never forget that we can be part of a tremendously influential & helpful system. #safespaceconvos
— Josh Thompson (@jthompedu) May 8, 2018
A5: I think community-school partnerships with graduate school counseling programs is a cost-effective way to bring in MH professionals—even though it requires hiring a licensed supervisor. #SafeSpaceConvos
— Jeff Baker (@Fight4TheYouth) May 8, 2018
A5. One of the things I so greatly appreciate about one of our school counselors is the way he tends to Ss needs & those of the Ts who support them – he always takes time after challenging conversations to ask us how we are #SafeSpaceConvos
— Christie Nold (@ChristieNold) May 8, 2018
#safespaceconvos Q5 I'd say my school has "hard structures" (eg guidance counselor, parent coordinator, psychologist) but also "soft structures" in place.
By soft structures, our old principal believed Ts had to be super formal and keep their distance from Ss
— Melvin Peralta (@melvinmperalta) May 8, 2018
A5: We have @ciscentraltx on campus, and a licensed mental health provider. But even with those resources, we need more to address the needs of our students. We need more MH providers on campus, or access to more off campus. #SafeSpaceConvos
— Tara Bordeaux (@Darkroom920) May 8, 2018
A5-spoke with a guidance counselor this wk who does NO counseling as they’re not a Title 1 school so does testing. #SafeSpaceConvos
— sheilarobertsveatch (@she_veatch) May 8, 2018
Be bold. Be authentic. Join the next #SafeSpaceConvos chat on Monday, May 21st at 8:30pm Eastern!