- CDC’s action guide describes six in-school strategies that are proven to promote and support mental health and well-being.
- For each strategy, the guide describes approaches, or specific ways to put the strategy into action.
- The guide also has examples of evidence-based policies, programs, and practices.
Why it’s important
Schools are prioritizing students’ mental health, and there are many tools and resources to choose from. CDC created this action guide as a place to start. It can help school and district leaders build on what they are already doing to promote students’ mental health. It can also help leaders find new strategies to fill in gaps.
School-based strategies
Learn about the strategies that are proven to promote and support mental health and well-being.
Download full action guide
An Action Guide for School and District Leaders
Multitiered Systems of Support
Multitiered Systems of Support (MTSS) are used by many schools and districts to support students’ different levels of needs. The strategies in this action guide can align with schools’ existing MTSS to enhance the work schools have already started.
Why schools
Schools help promote the mental health and well-being of students through education, prevention, and early intervention. Schools can reach a large number of youth with strategies that can lessen the effect of negative experiences and improve students’ health and well-being.
- Schools can establish safe and supportive environments.
- Schools can connect students to caring adults and encourage positive peer relationships.
- Schools can give students mental health support and link them and their families to community behavioral and mental health services.
- Schools that promote student mental health and well-being can improve classroom behavior, school engagement, and peer relationships. These factors are all connected to academic success.
Tools to get started
The tools below were created for school and district leaders and mental health support teams to help prioritize strategies and approaches, create a plan to put them in place, and communicate the plan with key partners.
How to get started resource
This resource provides practical tools designed to help you:
- Reflect on what your school or district is already doing to promote mental health and well-being,
- Prioritize strategies and approaches from the Action Guide to fill gaps and strengthen what is already in place, and
- Plan for Action to implement the strategies and approaches.
How to Get Started Resource
Presentation and communication template
The slides included in this presentation template can be adapted and used to help you communicate to key partners (e.g. school staff, district administrators, school boards, parent groups) about your plans for implementing strategies and approaches from the Action Guide.
Resources
Some of the action guide’s strategies and approaches may also improve other important health outcomes, such as experiences of violence and suicide.
CDC has several Resources for Action for preventing violence.
Content Source:
Adolescent and School Health; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)
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