August 28, 2022

Thrive Alliance Group Unveils Professional Development Series in Support of Student Mental Health

T To help teachers create a school environment and culture that supports students' mental health and enhances academic performance, the Thrive Alliance Group, a nationally recognised authority on promoting K–12 mental wellness, has launched a new series of professional development courses on mental wellness.

Sources from Thrive Alliance Group have said that the move comes after it found that only 8 percent of districts meet the recommended student-to-psychologist ratio and 14 percent of districts meet the student-to-counsellor ratio.

Districts don't have the luxury of time when it comes to addressing mental health because school staffing is a long-term challenge. According to Jon Brandt, CEO of Thrive Alliance Group, professional development should be implemented right away to give educators practical advice that promotes students' well-being and lessens teacher burnout.

…our new professional development series provides educators not just the tools and resources to support their students’ mental health, but the knowledge —ensuring educators feel comfortable and confident addressing concerns and supporting their students’ mental health now and in the future…

Students all over the country are having difficulties maintaining their mental wellness. More than 2 in 5 teenagers reported feeling depressed or hopeless on a regular basis, according to a recent survey by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention of high school students. A shortage of school psychologists was also mentioned by the American Psychological Association earlier this year.

Although the U.S. Department of Education requires that districts and schools provide effective mental health support, few teachers and staff have the skills or resources required to attend to each student's non-academic needs.

Speaking to the media, Patricia Hovey, executive director at Thrive Alliance Group said of the course, “Our new professional development series provides educators not just the tools and resources to support their students’ mental health, but the knowledge—ensuring educators feel comfortable and confident addressing concerns and supporting their students’ mental health now and in the future.”

Posted in News and tagged News, Thrive Alliance Group, Mental Health, Professional Development, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, American Psychological Association
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