Tips For Teachers: Ways To Help Students With Mental Health Issues

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Teaching is a noble job. A teacher must be patient enough with their students, especially those with behavioral and mental health issues. Instead of labeling people with mental illness, there are other means on how to deal with these students and help them out with their struggles.

Start Fresh

There’s always this student who stands out in class but not in a good way. You can get that feedback from previous teachers. Instead of going along with the former teacher’s opinion, try to give the child an opportunity. Treat the situation as a fresh new start for him. You can elicit the facts about the child from the previous teacher and ask how she handled it. Based on what you heard, analyze the child’s capacity and strategize on how to handle him.

 

Strategize Means On How to Handle Difficult Students

Put different strategies in place and use it to your advantage. What worked for difficult students that you have handled in the past? Just remember that this is a case to case basis, so you need to get to know the student first before applying any plan of action on him. Using old means to make him behave is good but be open to new techniques as well.

 

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Be In The Right Frame Of Mind

Note that with the way people are into today, the lifestyle of adults specifically the parents of children who are prone to issues, the kids can get affected in a significant way. As a result, these children can develop behavioral or emotional problems. Just bear in mind that you are a teacher and you need to take your post. Be patient with these children who have delicate issues, be in the right frame of mind and assist emotionally as required of a teacher.

 

Missing School Work

Due to behavioral and emotional problems most kids deal with these days, their memory ability seems to be impaired. With this, you need to reach them in another way so that they won’t miss school work. Aside from the traditional school means, you can remind the students in a way that they would not miss the schoolwork like sending a message through text, email and also, telling their parents as well.

 

Reduce Stress

Don’t be very strict when it comes to project and assignment submissions. Give the students enough time to fulfill their requirements. It is best for them to eliminate the stress out of the picture. “Chronic work stress, insufficient mental health resources, feeling overworked and under supported — these are issues facing too many workers, but it doesn’t have to be this way,” says David W. Ballard, PsyD, MBA.

 

Find Programs That Will Support Emotional And Social Learning

Look for accredited programs that can be beneficial for your student’s learning; a program that will support the school’s objectives and vision and a program that will teach the students on how to cope with their issues. “Rather than focusing on weaknesses, find ways to assist your child in developing to his or her full potential. When encouraged, children will acquire talents to compensate for any deficiencies.” As Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D., LMFT said.

 

Acknowledge Their Good Work

Never be thrifty when it comes to praising your students. If they did something good, let them know. This will surely boost their confidence which is good for their mental health and well-being.

 

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Use Other Options

There will be kids that despite your effort in helping them, nothing will seem to work. With this, seek the help of the school in finding ways to address the child’s issues and also, have a meeting with the parents so you can both assist the kid.

 

Avoid Embarrassment

Instead of putting the spotlight on the students who have been acting up in class, give them a one-on-one talk instead, but as their teacher, you have to provide conditions and when necessary, an ultimatum. Just assess the situation. Embarrassing the students in front of the class will not do any good for everyone. There is a tendency that he would go against you if you upset his ego.

 

Be Compassionate

Being compassionate, accommodating and kind can win hearts. But as teachers and with the stress they have to deal with daily, it is sometimes hard to be nice all the time to your students. Just try your best to be in a neutral and calm disposition. Make your students feel that they can always talk to you no matter what.

 

Work With The Parents

Make it a point to update the parents of their child’s progress in school and at the same time their behavior as well. Doing so will be of help in coping with what’s lacking in the child.

 

Take Care Of Yourself

“Early adolescents (ages 12-14), middle adolescents (ages 15-17), and late adolescents (ages 18-20) all have different needs from their caregivers based on where they are at developmentally.” Sandi Lindgren PCC, LICSW said. Being a teacher is never an easy job. That is why you need to unload your burdens and stress when the school day is done. Doing so will enable you to relax and get re-energized for the next day.

Always remember that what will become of the child also has to do with how you treat him. Be a patient educator.