Did you know May is Mental Health Month?

Teachers are on the front lines with their students and are often the first to notice that a child needs help. To close out the month, here are four important mental health resources for students and teachers:

Calm.com: Calm.com is a meditation website that you can use on your own or in the classroom. The site provides daily free meditations as well as mindfulness tips, and includes free access for teachers. Listen to guided meditations, breathing meditations, or just relaxing sounds daily to help you and your students stay calm and focused in the classroom.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: This site contains a wealth of resources for people considering suicide, as well as those who work with people experiencing mental distress. If you work with middle and high school students, review the resources for young adults periodically, to keep yourself attuned to the warning signs among your students. Also, check out the ATPE News article on How to Spot a Mental Health Crisis for additional tips on identifying and assisting students who struggle with mental health issues.

No Stigmas: No Stigmas provides a place for people struggling with mental illness to share their stories and connect with others facing the same problems. The site also contains a searchable database of mental health service centers across the country, as well as a learning center filled with supportive resources.

ATPE Professional Learning Portal: Check out ATPE’s Professional Learning Portal for free online courses (for CPE credit) on a variety of topics, including classroom management and instruction techniques. See “Social and Emotional Learning in Secondary Schools” for tips on helping your students become emotionally secure and successful young adults and “Being Good to You: A Self-Care Guide for Teachers” for techniques to improve your own mental health—to help you be the best you can be inside and outside the classroom.

Know of any good mental health resources? Share your favorites in the comments below.

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