Helping Special Populations Succeed Inside and Outside the Classroom

by: Mallory Hodges mhodg009

Chapter 3: Helping Special Populations Succeed Inside and Outside the Classroom

NOTE TO REVIEWERS: Upon reading over my lesson I am realizing that I might have went too narrow in my research. I would like to focus on other types of special populations of students in my final draft.

Learning Targets:

Students will be able to define mental health.
Students will be explain why mental health is important
Students will be able to identify mental health issues in students and get them help.

“What is mental health?”

Mental health is how we make good decisions, cope with stress, and effectively communicate with others. When the demands of a person over-exude their ability to cope and manage, this usually leads to some kind of mental illness (CDC, 2021). Oftentimes, these issues are ignored or overlooked but a poor mental will eventually show in performance and motivation. Mental health issues can come from a multitude of situations, whether that is from external forces or a chemical imbalance in the brain and they are more common in children than we may think (Forest et al, 2011). Mental health issues can sometimes be observed in young students in their classroom behavior, grades, and overall motivation for school. If a teacher suspects their student is struggling with their mental health, they should try to get in contact with the child’s parents and they could try to arrange a meeting with the school counselor.

“Why is mental health important?”

Mental health is important because it leads into every aspect of your life. Most mental disorders first appear in early adulthood (Cuijpers et al., 2021). Early adulthood is a stressful time for most. This is a time where a lot of people are just trying to find themselves and what drives them but there is a lot of demand placed on these young adults and sometimes they can lose their ability to cope. It is important for these young adults to develop healthy coping mechanisms because that may be how they learn to cope for the rest of their adulthood. Some unhealthy coping mechanisms can include drugs, overeating, oversleeping, or just giving up (CDC, 2021). These are all habits that have side effects and they can lead to an even more unhealthy mental state. Adults without healthy coping mechanisms will not be able to perform their best with the stresses of everyday life. They are not giving themselves their best chance at a healthy life.

“How can teachers identify mental health issues in students and help them succeed?”

If a student is mentally struggling, they will not perform to the best of their abilities in school. If a teacher is able to identify mental health issues early on, they might be able to get the student the additional help they need. Children often struggle with some kind of mental health issue but if they are younger, they do not really know how to effectively communicate that with their parents or teachers. If they are unable to cope with their surroundings and can not communicate their feelings, this may lead into their performance academically, socially, and even physically (CDC, 2018). If a teacher sees that a student is always missing school or stops being social in class, this may be the sign of depression or they are uncomfortable in their learning environment. If a student is uncomfortable in their learning environment then that should also be addressed by the teacher because a student will never perform their best in a space they do not feel safe in. (Meluch & Starcher, 2020). It is important for a teacher to speak up and ask questions, so they can make sure their student is getting the opportunity to do their best in school. If you ever feel that one of your students is acting differently than usual or not performing as well, they should ask the student how they are feeling or get in contact with their parents to make sure everything is okay at home.

A Different Perspective

Student and mental health advocate, Hailey Hardcastle, urges change in the education system and wants mental health to be valued in the learning process.

I am sure most of you have seen this painting. The “Scream” by Vincent van Gogh was his representation of his mental illnesses. He deeply struggled with depression and his art was one of his only expressions of self and what he found comfort in.

For Van Gogh, of course, his depression got the best of him but the connection be has built with artists all over the world shows that his work is more than the physical art he left behind.

This is my nephew Gabe. He has ADD and has a hard time focusing in class. He is very musically inclined but has a hard time getting his schoolwork done. It is interesting to see how some people cope with their mental struggles. Gabe chooses music and acting out in class to express his mental standing.

Both of these examples I have provided are people that struggle with real mental illness.

Reflection & Conclusion

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lives (CDC, 2021). Those are people who have gone to a doctor and been diagnosed but there are a lot of instances when mental illness goes unnoticed. Mental illness usually goes unnoticed until it starts to affect other aspects of life. When it physically starts to show in student success and motivation, it most likely has already been an issue for some time. Mental disorders and illnesses can be just as serious as a chronic illness and they should be handled in a manner that is patient and with understanding. Mental health disorders should be treated as any other disorder and that is by planning ahead, finding support, staying connected (Pollio, 2019). If a teacher finds that their student is mentally struggling, they should be able to accommodate that student and help them get the proper help they need.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, November 8). Obesity

among high school students in the United States: Risk factors and their

population attributable fraction. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, June 28). About mental health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cuijpers, P., Auerbach, R., Benjet, C., Bruffaerts, R., Ebert, D., Karyotaki, E., & Kessler, R. (2019). Introduction to the special issue: The WHO world mental health international college Student (WMH-ICS) initiative. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 28(2), E1762-N/a.

Forrest, C. B., Bevans, K. B., Riley, A. W., Crespo, R., & Louis, T. A. (2011,

August). School outcomes of children with Special Health Care Needs.

Pediatrics.

Meluch, A., & Starcher, S. (2020). College student concealment and disclosure of mental health issues in the classroom: students' perceptions of risk and use

of contextual criteria. Communication Studies, 71(5), 768-782.

Pollio, L. C. (Ed.). (2019, October). Balancing academics and serious illness (for parents) - nemours kidshealth. KidsHealth.

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1

How can mental health be defined?

being a good listener and being there for your friends
Being the smartest person in the room
having a photogenic memory and being able to do very well on quizzes and tests
how we make good decisions, cope with stress, and communicate with others

Answer:

D. how we make good decisions, cope with stress, and effectively communicate with others

Question 2:

Which of the following struggling students are showing signs of mental illness?

Alyssa, age 23, is just going back to school after having a child. She is having a hard time with her time management and raising a child. Her GPA is now at a C.
Makeja, age 18, has been hanging out with her friends instead of doing her homework to do senior class activities. Her overall GPA is now at a C-.
Eli, age 8, has been getting in trouble in class and has a hard time sitting still to focus on schoolwork. He is a very energetic child and likes to talk a lot to his classmates. His GPA is now at a D.

Answer:

C. Eli, age 8, has been getting in trouble in class and has a hard time sitting still to focus on schoolwork. He is a very energetic child and likes to talk a lot to his classmates. His GPA is now at a D.

Eli is showing signs of ADD.

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