Mental Health Resources

Use this resource to:

• have meaningful conversations with students about mental health

• discuss mental illness and circumstances that contribute to mental illness 

• teach various ways to cultivate healthy minds in your school

• identify and combat stigmas associated with mental illness

• point students to resources that are helpful in times of crisis 

• secondary friendly

Use this resource to:

• incorporate literacy activities to promote mental health awareness

• get the community involved in your school

• promote school spirit 

• Light the Way on social media

• k-12 friendly

Use this resource to:

• teach students about the concept of self-awareness.

• teach students how to cultivate internal/external self-awareness to help reduce stress/anxiety

• participate in “awareness activities” to model how these are done to create self-awareness effectively

• brainstorm with students on how they can implement strategies to “keep up with everyday life”

• brainstorm with students on how they can implement strategies to “invest time in themselves”

• challenge students to complete the “self-care challenge”

• secondary friendly

Use this resource to:

• brainstorm with students about all the cool things their minds can do, like thinking and creating!

•  explore what makes a happy mind and a sad mind

•  use the “Today I Feel” chart

• complete expansion activity in attached instructions

• elementary friendly

Use this resource to:

• help little students navigate big emotions

• come up with healthy, effective ways to reset a troubled, anxious, afraid, angry, sad, overwhelmed, or stressed out mind 

• elementary friendly

Use this resource to:

• teach students how to check in with their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors

• create meaningful and effective journal entries as self-reflections 

• help students pinpoint struggles 

• help students give voice  to their emotions

• k-12 friendly

Use this resource to:

• get a quick assessment of where your students are at today

• help students identify what they're feeling

• as a reminder for students to check in on their friends

• elementary friendly

Use this resource to:

• positively reinforce actions that give mental health a boost in a fun, game format!

• promote school spirit by giving students who  complete a row (vertically, horizontally, or diagonally) a district-approved prize!

• This includes a set of 30 randomized bingo cards that can be used in a classroom or schoolwide setting

k-12 friendly

Use this  resource to:

• teach students how to check in with their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors

• create meaningful and effective journal entries as self-reflections 

• help students pinpoint struggles

• help students give voice  to their emotions

• k-12 friendly

Use this resource to:

• help students create a routine that will track their mental health

• speak life into students with monthly affirmations

• teach students to focus on goals through visualization activities

• keep student motivation high with positive quotes

• cultivate growth mindset in students through monthly challenges

• promote self-reflection and evaluation through journaling activities

Use this resource to:

• teach students empathy toward peers

• offer choice in ways to assist peers

• teach students how to avoid negative responses to peers 

• promote effective coping strategies for anxiety

Use this resource to:

• give students 24/7 access to volunteer crisis counselors

• provide a way for students to access help for themselves or others while away from school

Use this resource to:

• teach students to identify thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors that put them at risk

• collaborate with students to create an effective safety plan

• promote a solid foundation in being self-aware

Use this resource to:

• promote healthy choices by offering students these mood-lifting activities to participate in when they're feeling down

• teach students to redirect themselves to use healthy coping skills in place of unhealthy coping skills

Use this resource to:

• teach students that promoting good mental health in ourselves includes time to rest, recharge, and do things that are relaxing and enjoyable

• offer choice in healthy self-care

Common ground for most youth in America is that school attendance is part of the childhood experience, which makes schools excellent locations to put strategies in place to promote mental health. This article provides strategies, approaches, and resources to do this effectively. 

Explore a list of books that are helpful in equipping educators to understand the impacts of trauma in  students' lives, as well as how taking a trauma-informed approach can revolutionize your classroom and your school. 

Did you know that ALL public school employees in Arkansas have access to *FREE* mental health services through the Employee Assistance Program? Even better, this benefit is extended to household members of public school employees, too! Check out this resource for more information.  

ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, are far more prevalent than most realize, and can have negative health and behavioral impacts for a lifetime. Read this article to gain a basic understanding of ACEs.

ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, are far more prevalent than most realize, and can have negative health and behavioral impacts for a lifetime. Read this article to explore ideas of how your district and/or community can cultivate protective factors for your students with ACEs. 

ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, are far more prevalent than most realize, and can have negative health and behavioral impacts for a lifetime. Read this article to learn how your district and/or community can play a role in preventing ACEs.

This is a data-driven infographic full of information about ACEs, impacts on long-term physical and mental health, and ways to move forward to strengthen our communities. 

When we know better, we can do better. Assess your building's strengths and weaknesses in being a trauma-invested school by studying this chart from Kristin Souers and Pete Hall's book: Relationship, Responsibility, & Regulation: Trauma-invested strategies for fostering resilient learners. 

Ever had a student "flip their lid?" Study this resource to learn why this happens, and consider using it as a tool to teach students how to effectively and respectfully communicate that they're about to "flip their lid."

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) developed the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to expand crisis care in the United States. Call or text this number for 24/7 crisis support. Check out this article for more information. 

SAMHSA (Administración de Servicios de Salud Mental y Abuso de Sustancias) desarrolló el 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline para ampliar la atención de crisis en los Estados Unidos. Llame o envíe un mensaje de texto a este número para recibir asistencia en caso de crisis las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana. Consulte este artículo para obtener más información.

The Crisis Text Line is another free resource for parents and caretakers to reach out to a volunteer crisis counselor for help navigating mental health crises that may arise.  

Are you noticing behavioral changes in your child, such as excessive tiredness, complaining of stomach aches, or suddenly not wanting to go to school? Check out this resource to learn more about Signs of Stress and Anxiety in Youth. 

Death of a friend or family member is an event that many children have experienced, or will experience. Many questions and emotions arise when death happens, and it can be difficult to help children navigate these things. Read this article for helpful insight on how to walk with children through grieving death.

Should a child attend a funeral? Should a child be given explicit details about a loved one's terminal illness? Read this article for discussion on these questions and more about helping children navigate grief.