Supporting students with school-related anxiety
School-related anxiety
There are a whole host of reasons for school related anxiety, from finding the work challenging, or struggling with relationships with both peers and teachers. It's essential to create a supportive, nurturing environment where students can manage their anxiety effectively
Here are some strategies for educators, parents, and the community to support students in dealing with anxiety:
Open Dialogue
Encourage open and honest conversations about anxiety. Let students know that anxiety is a totally normal human emotion and therefore it's normal to feel anxious at times. Try to create a non-judgmental atmosphere where they can express their fears and concerns. Even if you find a child’s concerns minor/easy to solve, just try and listen in the first instance and ensure they feel heard.
Educate Students About Anxiety
Many students don't understand what anxiety is or how it affects them. Provide age-appropriate information about anxiety and its symptoms. This knowledge can empower them to identify their feelings and seek help when needed. YOUNGMINDS is the UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health. Check out their website for some excellent advice and resources for both parents and children.
Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques
Teach students mindfulness exercises and relaxation techniques. These practices can help manage anxiety by promoting self-awareness and calming the mind. Take a look at this short article on the BBC website on the top 10 mindfulness exercises for children.
Set Realistic Goals and Reduce Academic Pressure
Encourage students to set achievable goals. Unrealistic expectations can trigger anxiety. Help them break down their goals into manageable steps to reduce stress. If the goal is to become a rocket scientist, perhaps just focus on that next end of topic test in Physics or Maths. There’s a lot of pressure to be amazing across the board in schools, but the reality is that we all tend to specialise in certain areas as we grow up, we can’t all be great at everything and that’s ok! It's essential to strike a balance between academic rigor and a student's mental well-being. While challenging students is essential, excessive pressure can be unhelpful.
Supportive Teachers
Most teachers will be able to recognize the signs of anxiety in students. Schools should be able to offer support, adjust expectations when necessary, and maintain open lines of communication with both students and parents. Get in touch with your child’s school if you think they are struggling and see what support is available. Schools should have access to counsellors or mental health professionals who can provide guidance and support when necessary.
Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Encourage a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and sufficient sleep. These factors can significantly impact a student's mental well-being. As a teacher of year 11 students, I can often ask them to show me their mobile phone screen time, it’s surprisingly common to see numbers upwards of 8 hours a day spent on their mobile phones! Try and convince them to redirect some of that time to healthier activities and to get outside for some fresh air and exercise.
In summary
Supporting students with anxiety is a collective effort. When schools, parents, and the community work together, we can create an environment where students can thrive academically and emotionally. By implementing these strategies, we can help students cope with anxiety, build resilience, and become successful learners. Can you have these conversations with your friends in your community, perhaps the parents of your child’s friends. It’s well known that teenagers don’t like taking advice from their own parents. They do however, tend to take note of things their friends parents may say. So try and make sure they’re surrounded by other supportive voices. It’s better if we’re all singing from the same hymn sheet!