Detecting mental health issues

How teachers can help identify students’ mental health problems in the classroom

With mental health issues, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier it is for students to get back on track. With a recent rise in mental illnesses like anxiety and depression, it’s important for teachers to know the warning signs. “Teachers spend the most time with kids, so they need to be the gatekeepers for these problems,” says Karen Weston. She and Jim Koller, co-directors of MU’s Center for the Advancement of Mental Health Practices in Schools, describe indicators teachers can watch for.

Know what is normal, and what is not. “One of the best things teachers can do is know what the characteristics of good social and emotional development are,” Koller says. For example, young children will occasionally have tantrums. A ten-year-old student should not have the same kind of outburst. Each child develops differently, but alarming characteristics include atypical responses to predictable stimuli, such as laughing when someone gets hurt in the classroom.

Don’t interpret. Write down what you see, not what you think you see. “Teachers can’t diagnose problems, but the information they provide to those who can make a diagnosis is invaluable,” Weston says. Share this information with your school’s appropriate support personnel. Your insight is particularly helpful to school social workers, psychologists, nurses and guidance counselors.

Be observant. Learn to read students’ nonverbal cues. “Externalizing disorders such as ADHD are easier to pick up on,” Koller says, because of outward symptoms like hyperactivity and inattention. “What tends to be missed more are the internal ones.” Children who are quiet and withdrawn or extreme perfectionists may actually be suffering from depression or anxiety.

Don’t be afraid to speak up. If left undiagnosed, mental health problems tend to escalate. “There’s good evidence that an adolescent with problems grows up to be an adult with problems,” Koller says. It's estimated that 70% of adult mental illness starts by age 14. Share your concerns with other teachers and ask if they see the same warning signs.

Beware of big changes. “Any out-of-character behavior should raise a warning flag,” Weston says. This could be a sociable child who is suddenly hiding in a closet, or one who starts acting out when he or she is generally mild-mannered. If a student’s behavior alters drastically, be alert for circumstances that could be causing the change and mention the situation to the school counselor or psychologist.