Untreated Mental Health Issues Hurt Student Outcomes and Educator Morale
Schools continue to face a mounting mental health crisis. Today’s students are experiencing increased anxiety, depression, and related mental health challenges that impact learning and overall educational outcomes.
To understand the gravity of this situation, consider Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow’s theory suggests that basic needs must be met before individuals can focus on higher-level growth and learning. Mental health challenges can severely disrupt this hierarchy, negatively impacting cognitive function and social development, ultimately increasing absenteeism and lowering graduation rates.
When student mental health issues go untreated, the effects are felt by teachers. They often manifest as behavioral problems, which complicate classroom dynamics and impede instruction.
With student mental health resources in short supply, many teachers also find themselves on the front lines of student mental health support. Lacking the expertise and capacity needed to fill this role, educators’ morale deteriorates as they struggle to prioritize their own mental health and manage burnout.
How AI Helps Schools Support Student Mental Health
Technology has undoubtedly introduced new challenges for children. Like many aspects of modern life, though, technology’s impact depends largely on its application. It can be either a source of difficulties or a valuable resource. Here’s how AI can be a resource for schools to more effectively support student mental health.
Early Detection
Students’ online searches and activities can contain early indicators of issues like bullying, depression, violence, self-harm, and suicide. AI-powered student wellness monitoring software like Securly Aware analyzes students’ online interactions for these signs of distress—including self-harm, suicide, bullying/cyberbullying, and violence. When risk signals are detected, school personnel are alerted so they can investigate quickly and intervene if warranted.
By relying on AI to detect early signs that a student is struggling, they’re able to proactively investigate before the situation escalates. The insight student wellness monitoring provides can be particularly vital for hard-to-reach students and those who are suffering in silence. To learn more about AI-powered student wellness monitoring, read this blog.
Triage and Resource Allocation
School counselors, psychologists, and social workers are often responsible for hundreds of students each. Lacking enough time in the day to check in with every student, they can unknowingly miss critical opportunities for support.
Acting like an extra set of eyes and ears, Securly Aware analyzes students’ online activities and behaviors using a sophisticated and highly trained AI analysis engine. Each student is assigned a Wellness Level based on their interactions, ranging from all clear to critical. Student support staff can easily see how many students are at each level. They can also drill down to see the students in each level and access additional insights to understand the risks involved.
With Wellness Levels, student services teams know what students demonstrate the most serious risks, so they can focus their attention where it’s needed most. They’re also able to gain early insight into students who are trending negatively, so they can take proactive measures to investigate before issues escalate. To learn more about wellness levels, read the blog.
Multi-Tiered Supports
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are evidence-based frameworks that schools can use to support students’ mental health and wellbeing. MTSS focuses more on academic and social-emotional supports, while PBIS provides strategies for creating a positive school climate and managing student behavior.
To use these tools to their full advantage, though, school districts need access to current and actionable data to identify student needs, monitor student progress, and dynamically adapt interventions and supports. This reliance on data has traditionally been an obstacle. But AI helps schools overcome this so they can realize the potential of these frameworks to more efficiently and effectively support diverse student needs.
Securly Discern is a revolutionary AI that automates the collection and analysis of data needed for MTSS and PBIS, as well as CASEL, school climate assessment, and more. Data analysis that used to take months is complete in mere minutes. With always-on access to real-time data, school teams can easily identify intervention needs and be highly responsive to the unique circumstances and backgrounds of each student. To learn more about using AI to automate data collection and analysis, read the blog.
Conclusion
AI is a powerful tool that can augment resource-constrained student support teams, giving them critical insights to support their students. By leveraging AI to help identify and triage student needs, as well as implement multi-tiered supports, K-12 administrators can feel confident they’re prioritizing their students’ mental health, even if their human resources are limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does AI support student mental health?
A: AI-powered student wellness monitoring software like Securly Aware analyzes students’ online interactions for signs of distress, including self-harm, suicide, bullying/cyberbullying, and violence. This early detection enables proactive investigation and intervention.
Q: What are the benefits of AI-powered student wellness monitoring?
A: AI-powered student wellness monitoring provides real-time insights into students’ online activities and behaviors, enabling early detection of issues and proactive intervention. It also helps school personnel allocate resources more effectively and efficiently.
Q: How can AI support multi-tiered supports in schools?
A: AI can automate the collection and analysis of data needed for MTSS and PBIS, as well as CASEL, school climate assessment, and more. This enables school teams to identify intervention needs and be highly responsive to the unique circumstances and backgrounds of each student.
