In July, a major study found that almost a third of students reported they were not coping well over the first half of the year. Of concern, the capacity to cope had declined from 74% in term one to 61% in term two.
The researchers, from leading school wellbeing platform Truwell also found that 24% have concerns about their health, while 17% reporting concern with acceptance and 13% concerned about safety. Acceptable levels of hopefulness and happiness was missing in 30% and 24% of students respectively
Last week, Raise held its free virtual National Student Wellbeing Event, ‘Students and stability – how schools and educators can support student wellbeing’.
One of the keynote speakers at the event was Kristen Douglas, the national manager of Schools at Headspace. Douglas leads a large national multidisciplinary team through headspace working across all Australian Primary and Secondary Schools to enhance the mental health and wellbeing of whole school communities with a focus on school leaders and staff.
Below she draws from her extensive work with schools to share five helpful tips on how principals can enhance student wellbeing.
‘We need to drop anchor and reflect’
“Reflective practice is really important for educators right now; how we’re talking to each other right now, how we’re connecting, and how we’re slowing down to speed up,” Douglas said.
“There is a natural inclincation to move at pace and at speed at all time, and it feels counterproductive to slow down or stop, but if we don’t anchor, ground our teams and slow down a bit and work out what’s important, we’ll spiral off into some trajectory that’s unhelpful.”
Douglas said it is important principals involve their entire school community in the conversation.
“It’s mid year. Let’s slow down and talk about what’s important, our priorities and how we’re going to do this together, and when I say together, this means the whole school – because that’s where you get a whole school/whole community response to things,” she said.
“Right now, I really encourage schools to drop anchor. What is important to us right now? Is it student achievement or is it kids feeling safe, content and grounded. As a parent of two little girls, I know that I’d prefer them to be safe and happy first. Learning will come later, but you need the precursors in place first.”