Research suggests that when students have more choices about their materials and activities, they’re more motivated-which may translate to increased learning and academic success. For older students, Faustino said that level of comfort often leads to more productive, open conversations. Online scheduling and remote appointments make it easier for students to access mental health resources, and some students even enjoy virtual appointments more, as they can attend therapy in their own spaces rather than showing up in the counselor’s office. Because of physical distancing guidelines, school leaders had to find ways to deliver mental health services remotely, including via online referrals and teletherapy with school psychologists and counselors.Įarly in the pandemic, Faustino said he was hesitant about teletherapy’s effectiveness now, he hopes to continue offering a virtual option. Improved access to mental health resources in schools is another positive effect. For example, teachers could teach mindfulness techniques in the classroom and take in-the-moment opportunities to help kids resolve conflicts or manage stress. “We’ve been seeing a broader appreciation for the fact that mental health is a prerequisite for learning rather than an extracurricular pursuit,” said Eric Rossen, PhD, director of professional development and standards at the National Association of School Psychologists.Īs a result, Rossen hopes educators will embed social and emotional learning components into daily instruction. In New York City, for example, schools are hiring more than 600 new clinicians, including psychologists, to screen students’ mental health and help them process pandemic-related trauma and adjust to the “new normal” of attending school in person.Įducators and families are also realizing the importance of protecting students’ mental health more generally-not only for their health and safety but for their learning. This renewed focus on mental health has the potential to improve students’ well-being in profound ways-starting with helping them recover from the pandemic’s effects. “Because COVID-19 affected everyone, we’re now having mental health discussions as school leaders on a daily and weekly basis,” he said. Prioritizing mental healthįaustino said that during the pandemic, he had more mental health conversations with students, families, and teachers than ever. Here are some of the benefits of distance learning that school psychologists and educators have observed and the ways in which they’re implementing those lessons post-pandemic, with the goal of creating a more equitable, productive environment for all students. “We had to work hard at figuring out new ways to connect with them.” “So many students were impacted by the pandemic, so we couldn’t just assume they would find resources on their own,” said Faustino. Peter Faustino, PsyD, a school psychologist in Scarsdale, New York, said the pandemic also prompted educators and school psychologists to find creative new ways of ensuring students’ emotional and academic well-being. For example, certain populations of students found new ways to be more engaged in learning, without the distractions and difficulties they faced in the classroom, and the general challenges of remote learning and the pandemic brought mental health to the forefront of the classroom experience. Factors such as a lack of reliable technology and family support, along with an absence of school resources, resulted in significant academic setbacks, not to mention stress for everyone involved.īut for all the downsides of distance learning, educators, psychologists, and parents have seen some benefits as well. The return to classrooms this fall brings major relief for many families and educators. With schools open again after more than a year of teaching students outside the classroom, the pandemic sometimes feels like a distant memory.
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