Students’ Mental Health in School
K12 is committed to helping students navigate their mental well-being in school and beyond. No matter what challenges students may be facing, the flexibility, resources, and safety online school provides can help them feel understood and give them the support they need.
Why is mental health important?
Mental health refers to much more than simply the absence of mental health disorders or mental illness, and having good mental health support is a crucial part of the education system. Ultimately, students with positive mental health can build relationships more effectively, make decisions, and work together, supporting them as they enter adulthood.
Lift Each Other Up
Our Lift Each Other Up web series is a monthly safe space to help students learn new ways to manage their mental well-being and overcome their personal challenges.
How K12-Powered Schools Support the Mental Health of Students
At K12-powered schools, we take the mental health of online students seriously. Through various tactics and resources, we work to prevent many common mental health challenges students may encounter in their learning environments.
Here are ways K12-powered schools support the students we serve:
- Recognize early warning signs of mental health challenges
- Offer flexibility for bandwidth and family circumstances
- Teach to the student, not the subject
- Humanize remote learning to relieve anxiety and stress
- Remain aware of political and societal issues outside of school that may affect students
Students Struggling With Mental Health
Students experiencing poor mental health may be dealing with depression, stress, anxiety, addictive conditions, or aggressive behavior. Students may be distracted or uninterested, affecting their ability to learn material presented in the classroom.
Some warning signs that may indicate a student is struggling with their mental health include:
Low concentration
Low achievement
Less engagement
Stunted progress
Less social growth
Low enthusiasm
There are a variety of reasons students may exhibit these behaviors that may or may not be related to mental health, but these are important things to look out for.
Impacts of Online Learning on Students’ Mental Health
At K12, we understand the importance of promoting and protecting students and recognize the many mental health benefits of an online classroom. Some of those benefits include:
According to the WHO, “bullying is a leading risk factor for mental health conditions.” Studies show, however, that online education significantly reduced bullying—including cyberbullying, despite the added time spent online.2
The online classroom gives students greater flexibility and accessibility outside of scheduled class times. This can help reduce stressors and give students more control and confidence in their pace and advancement.
Some students experience reduced anxiety when they can attend school from home. There is less rushing to get out the door, less social pressure, and more time spent in a familiar environment they can control.
While some peer influences can be positive, negative peer pressure commonly pushes students toward poorer decisions. Reduced peer pressure can help students stick to their own beliefs and convictions and strengthen their sense of self.
Online school allows parents and families greater access to their student’s education. When parents are more involved, they can intervene and offer encouragement in ways not always possible with a traditional school.
The tools available to teachers for SEL at online schools powered by K12 are more advanced, allowing them to amplify student voices, support social-emotional development, and increase empathy and self-awareness.3
Discover the Mental Health Benefits of Online School
K12-powered schools can support positive experiences for students’ mental health during online learning. Help your child reach their full potential in a safe, secure learning environment. If you have any other questions, please reach out to us.
1World Health Organization. “Mental Health: Strengthening Our Response.” www.who.int, 30 Mar. 2018, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response#:~:text=Mental%20health%20is%20a%20state.
2Bacher-Hicks, Andrew, etc al. The COVID-19 Pandemic Disrupted Both School and Cyberbullying. www.edworkingpapers.com/sites/default/files/ai21-436.pdf.
3”Building Social-Emotional Skills with Technology: How to Use SEL to Cultivate Digital Wellness.” The Digital Wellness Lab, 8 Nov. 2021, digitalwellnesslab.org/articles/building-social-emotional-skills-with-technology-how-to-use-sel-to-cultivate-digital-wellness/.