Mental and Behavioral Health
South Dakota schools must create a climate that is both safe and supportive for effective teaching and learning to thrive. According to The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, "School climate is a broad, multifaceted concept that involves many aspects of the student’s educational experience. A positive school climate is the product of a school’s attention to fostering safety; promoting a supportive academic, disciplinary, and physical environment; and encouraging and maintaining respectful, trusting, and caring relationships throughout the school community no matter the setting—from Pre-K/Elementary School to higher education." (National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, 2020).
Educators and administrators have recognized the role mental health plays in creating a positive school climate and the impact it has on a student’s academic and personal achievement. Educators are very often the first line of defense in a child’s mental well-being. Therefore, it is critical that schools and parents create positive strategies and connections for students to protect their mental health and to help them grow into healthy adults.
The Center for Disease Control and Protection reports that more than 1 in 3 high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019, a 40 percent increase over a 10-year span. In 2019, approximately 1 in 6 youth reported making suicide plans within that past year. That was a 40 percent increase since 2009. Poor mental health in adolescents can impact several areas of a student’s life. Youth with poor mental health may struggle with school and grades, decision making, and physical health. Mental health problems often lead to increased risk of drug use and violence.
To help schools prioritize the need for safe and supporting learning environments, critical to students’ well-being, the South Dakota School Safety Center employs a School Safety Specialist who provides programming and resources geared specifically for youth mental and behavioral health, including:
