Students’ Pandemic Stress Persists into Summer

Sadness and stress resulting from pandemic-inspired closures, social distancing measures, and overall isolation continue for many students now that summer has arrived.

As Arianna Prothero shares in Education Week, too many students are responding to today’s challenges by taking their own lives.

Social isolation is uniquely hard on teenagers, said Rob Coad, a school psychologist and a member of the National Association of School Psychologists’ School Safety and Crisis Response Committee.

“One of their main jobs in life is developing social connections,” he said. “Their job is to differentiate from their parents and establish relationships with peers, and we’re blocking that. They’re missing an important developmental moment.”

Here in Maryland, the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS) is hosting a School Safety Seminar Series this July that will devote two of four virtual seminars to supporting students’ mental well-being both generally and in particular during these extraordinary times. School system staff, school administrators and employees, and school safety partners from across Maryland are invited to attend.

In addition, MCSS reminds all members of the community to utilize the Safe Schools Maryland anonymous reporting system. Whether students are experiencing cyberbullying or are concerned about one or more students capable of self-harm or violence, Safe Schools Maryland, which is administered by MCSS, is anonymously accessible 24/7 by phone at 1-833-MD-B-SAFE (1-833-632-7233), online at safeschoolsmd.org, and by downloading the free app via the App Store or Google Play.

“Though much has changed in recent weeks, Safe Schools Maryland remains available to anonymously report concerns regarding the safety and well-being of all Maryland’s students,” said Kate Hession, Executive Director of the Maryland Center for School Safety (MCSS). MCSS also provides grants and school safety training and support to public, non-public special education, and private schools throughout Maryland.

To increase awareness of the tip line during this difficult time, earlier this year MCSS shared a short public service announcement (PSA) acknowledging students still face numerous challenges, many of which they would normally share with teachers, staff members, or fellow students in-person at school. The full PSA can be viewed at https://youtu.be/cN5KoetBsFM.

“Student safety and student well-being are at the foundation of all that we do. It’s essential to remind students that they are not alone during this period and that we will get through this together,” added Hession.

Finally, in response to the challenges facing so many during this period of uncertainty, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has also published a suite of resources related to COVID-19 and mental health.