Stress and anxiety are normal responses to the many changes that come with preparing to head back to school. Promoting wellbeing in school communities can help ensure a smooth, successful transition for students and teachers. For this reason, we created a wellbeing toolbox filled with resources that can serve as protective factors to help school communities feel safe and supported.
While these resources might not eliminate worry, they can help maintain school connectedness and cultivate a positive school climate.
Back-to-School Advice for Teachers
An article filled with quick wellbeing tips to support teachers who will be welcoming students to in-person or hybrid learning.
Cultivating Compassionate Schools
A self-paced course discussing the importance of using a trauma and resilience informed approach to create a nurturing school community. This course demonstrates skills that can help students overcome adversity, build resilience, and thrive in the classroom.
Educators Overcoming Under Stress
Developed while the majority of students were learning at home, this collection of interviews, presented by experts in the field of education and mental health, empowers educators with evidence-based skills they can use to support students.
General Tips on Using Supportive Language With LGBTQ+ People
A printable tool offering guidance and examples you can reference to ensure you are using supportive and respectful language with LGBTQ+ students.
Mental Health Wellbeing Workshop for Educators to Use With Students
A series of workshops for high school students, aged 13–21, developed by Department of Mental Health (DMH) School-Based Community Access Platform (SBCAP). These workshops are intended to be presented during class time by educators.
Promoting School Wellbeing and Safety Through Empathy
This presentation defines empathy, wellbeing, and safety. It also discusses how students can put empathy into action to improve wellbeing and create a safer school community.
Psychological First Aid for Everyone
A self-paced course that provides a framework for understating factors that affect the stress responses of the school community you serve and how to apply Psychological First Aid (PFA) skills to provide basic care, comfort, and support to those experiencing disaster-related stress.
Recognizing and Managing Anxiety in the Classroom
An interactive, self-paced course that explores practical strategies for navigating the nuances involved with recognizing and addressing stress, fear, and anxiety in K–12 students.
Rising Above the Chaos: A Teen's Guide to Taming Stress
This presentation provides youth with information to identify stress, its effect on their daily life and health, and ways to manage it, including tips for building coping skills and resources.
Using the Feeling Thermometer in the Classroom
A video demonstration of how to use the Feeling Thermometer, an emotion regulation tool that can help students become more aware of their feelings and develop essential life skills, such as honesty and self-reflection.