Mental

Health

CHeat

Sheet

"How are things going for you?"

aka: invite the conversation

"It sounds like you're worried about..."

aka: listen, echo back, remove assumptions

"Yeah, that is tough!"

aka: validate student experience

If appropriate:

Share a relevant related experience from your past

aka: normalize student experience

NOTE: this is NOT a time to "show off" how capable you are, how easy it is to solve the problem, or co-opt the student struggle

"What's helped you out in the past?"

aka: build connections to prior healthy behaviors

"What will help you right now /this week
/this project?"

aka: refocus on tangible strategies and support structures

If necessary:

"I would like to bring in [other staff member] because I think they will have more insights and strategies for you. "Are you comfortable with that?"
"What can I share with them?"
"Would you like to reach out to them directly yourself?"

aka: "Let's increase your support structure" -
         NOT "I'm out!"

"So, this week we're going to ..."

aka: summarize short-term action plan for both student and you

"Are you feeling able to move forward?"

aka: verify that student concerns have been addressed and that a plan is in place

"I'll follow up with you [in two days/next week
/etc]."

aka: follow up to see if strategies are working, establish accountability

Go forth and be unafraid

OF STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH

student mental health cheat sheet

By letakeane

student mental health cheat sheet

How to care for student mental health (it's not as hard or scary as you think)

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