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Navigating School Mental Health Tech: Creating a Guide for Educators and Administrators

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HBGCC - 217D

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Session description

Join experts and youth leaders to explore the K-12 Mental Health Tech Navigator, a free guide for choosing and using digital interventions to support student well-being. Engage with the platform, provide feedback, and hear real-world testimonials from schools utilizing technology to enhance student mental health support.

Outline

- Introduction (10 minutes)
Welcome and overview of session objectives.
A brief introduction to the K-12 Mental Health Tech Navigator.
Importance of integrating digital tools for student mental well-being by experts and young people
- Navigating Student Needs & Selecting Digital Solutions (20 minutes)
Assessing student mental health needs in diverse school settings.
Criteria for choosing digital tools that align with school goals.
Interactive demonstration of the Navigator platform for selecting suitable tools.
-Gaining Insights from Case Studies & Addressing Common Needs (25 minutes)
Presentation of case studies from schools and districts using digital products.
Real-world testimonials highlighting best practices, challenges, and outcomes.
Overview of available funding sources for mental health technology in schools.
Addressing potential challenges and solutions during implementation.
Small group discussion on common needs and solutions across different educational environments.
- Hear from Youth Voices & Experts (20 minutes)
Direct insights from young people on their needs and experiences for enhancing mental well-being.
Panel discussion with experts in youth mental health, education, and technology.
Q&A session with the panel to address participant questions.
-Interactive Feedback and Engagement (10 minutes)
Hands-on exploration of the Navigator platform by attendees.
Participants provide feedback and suggestions for platform improvement.
Discussion on how participant input will shape future iterations to better serve schools and students.
-Closing Remarks (5 minutes)
Thank participants for their engagement and contributions.
Recap of key takeaways and learning points.
Invitation to stay connected for continued support and collaboration
Provide contact information for further questions and follow-up resources.

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Supporting research

From the National Center for Education Statistics, please see Roughly Half of Public Schools Report That They Can Effectively Provide Mental Health Services to All Students in Need and this language specifically: "Only half of public schools can support student mental health needs, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Sixty-nine percent of public schools reported an increase in the percentage of their students seeking mental health services at school since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and roughly three-quarters (76 percent) of schools also reported an increase in staff voicing concerns about their students exhibiting symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and trauma."

From KFF, please see The Landscape of School-Based Mental Health Services. In the section, Barriers to School-Based Mental Health Services, please see this language specifically: "Many schools do not meet recommended ratios for psychologists to students (500:1) or counselors to students (250:1). Going into the 2022-2023 school year,19% of public schools have vacancies for mental health professionals. Among schools with these vacancies, 84% reported it will be somewhat or very difficult to fill these mental health positions.

The Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention in High Schools: This evidence-based approach to supporting student mental health focuses on seven areas key to creating a holistic safety net for student well-being and building a connected school community.

Youth Suicide: Current Trends and the Path to Prevention: This report — created in collaboration with mental health researchers and clinicians who work directly with youth — explores the most recent data on youth mental health and suicide to offer a detailed look at what youth are experiencing and what we all can do to support their emotional well-being and lower suicide risk.

Here are a few articles that highlight the importance of tech in K-12 mental health:
- https://thejournal.com/articles/2023/07/24/ed-tech-is-critical-to-addressing-the-student-mental-health-crisis.aspx
- https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2023/09/mental-health-k-12-schools-how-tech-can-help-perfcon

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Presenters

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Creator
University of South Florida
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VP, Digital Products
The Jed Foundation
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Global Head of Health and Education
SecondMuse - Headstream
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Vice President - Education and Strategy
Meadows: Mental Health Policy Institute
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Director of Educational Services
Rim of the World Unified School District
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Youth Advisor
Headstream Innovation

Session specifications

Topic:

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Grade level:

6-12

Audience:

Counselor, District Level Leadership, School Level Leadership

Attendee devices:

Devices useful

Attendee device specification:

Smartphone: Android, iOS, Windows

Subject area:

Health and Physical Education

ISTE Standards:

For Education Leaders:
Equity and Citizenship Advocate
  • Model the use of technology in inclusive, healthy ways to solve problems and strengthen community.
For Educators:
Learner
  • Set professional learning goals to apply teaching practices made possible by technology, explore promising innovations, and reflect on their effectiveness.
For Students:
Empowered Learner
  • Set learning goals, develop strategies leveraging technology to achieve them and reflect on the learning process to improve learning outcomes.

TLPs:

Cultivate Belonging, Ensure Equity

Additional detail:

Student presentation