Mod 8: Skill-building for Mental Health and Well-being

Teens need our help—now more than ever. A recent CDC report released February 2023 shares alarming statistics. Among teen girls:

57% reported persistent despair compared to 29% of boys
Nearly 1 in 3 (30%) seriously considered attempting suicide—up nearly 60% since 2011

The CDC report writes:

“While all teens reported increasing mental health challenges, experiences of violence, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, girls fared worse than boys across nearly all measures… ‘High school should be a time for trailblazing, not trauma. These data show our kids need far more support to cope, hope, and thrive,’ Debra Houry, M.D., M.P.H., CDC’s Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science. ‘Proven school prevention programs can offer teens a vital lifeline in these growing waves of trauma.’”

Many attribute this staggering escalation in mental health and wellness indicators—especially among girls—to: a) social media/screentime and b) isolation from COVID conditions and screentime. In the School-Connect Teen Voices interviews it was remarkable how many times students—especially girls—used the term “comparison.” Today’s teens are bombarded with images of an unattainable life. They will never feel as “beautiful” or “popular” or “successful” as the images they compare themselves to. They are left feeling hopeless, lonely, and inadequate.

School-Connect—and Module 8 especially— addresses each of these needs directly and equips students with the social, emotional, and cognitive skills they’ll need to navigate their 21st Century world. Lesson 8.1 begins with recognizing the physical cues associated with a range of emotions (anger, stress, sadness, and happiness). Next students learn about how their thoughts—positive or negative—can impact their emotions and outcomes. They practice tracking and turning around automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) for both personal and academic settings (8.2).

Lesson 8.3 delves into differentiating between stress (usually caused by external pressures) and anxiety (the body’s response to stress), and presents healthy stress reduction strategies compared to unhealthy coping strategies (8.3.1 lesson extension). Next Lesson 8.4: Understanding Sadness/Depression introduces the “snowball of sadness.” What starts as a bad day can sometimes lead to escalating self-doubts and withdrawal from social activities (8.5). Students learn more about indicators of healthy/functional compared to unhealthy/dysfunctional levels of emotions—and when/how to seek help for themselves and/or others (8.6).

Emotions, in and of themselves, are helpful guides in avoiding unhealthy situations and pursuing happiness (8.7 & 8.8). Intuitively, we all seek opportunities that bring contentment. Feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, and fear alert us to reconsider the situation and change our course of direction. Nobody is happy all the time—that would be unrealistic and, ultimately, even boring. The goal of these lessons is to help students recognize the messages of their emotions and appreciate/utilize mental health maintenance.

Like School-Connect as a whole, these lessons are designed to be an “owner’s manual” for living a healthy and successful life. The lessons are made to be facilitated by teachers and/or counselors and do not require a mental health training background. The Knowledge Hub speakers are experienced mental health professionals and present the concepts in memorable and accessible ways. The Teen Voices and S-C Alumni speakers’ heartwarming, first-hand experiences help students feel less alone in their feelings while also guiding them toward essential mental health strategies and supports. Having this conversation in the company of classmates and a caring teacher is an important first step toward raising awareness and boosting protective factors.