School attendance: Why mental health and screen time are keys

School attendance matters.  

Students who show up regularly are more likely to excel academically, graduate on time, and develop essential social and emotional skills. Yet, chronic absenteeism remains a nationwide issue.  

From what I’ve seen as a therapist and school counselor, students who avoid school aren’t doing so because they don’t want to learn; they’re young people often struggling with anxiety and a lack of belonging, which triggers a negative response to school, decreased motivation, and sometimes skipping school altogether. 

To improve student well-being and get them excited about coming to school, we must to address two critical areas: mental health and screen time. Both play a significant role in how students feel and perform in school, and both require immediate and thoughtful intervention. 

Prioritize Mental Health: Creating an integrated mental health prevention, education, and intervention program at all three tiers of support can have a direct and immediate positive impact on student attendance and engagement. Students often stop coming to school when they feel disconnected, are having family problems, or struggle with their self-worth and confidence. School leaders must acknowledge their role in creating a healthy, welcoming, and supportive environment focused on promoting mental health. 

Here are steps administrators can take to prioritize mental health effectively: 

• Invest in Educator Mental Health: Begin by supporting teachers and staff. When educators are mentally healthy, they can better support their students. Offer professional development on stress management, provide access to mental health resources, and foster a positive work environment.
• Implement Comprehensive Mental Health Programs: Develop programs that include prevention, education, and intervention at all levels. Ensure these programs are integrated into the daily school routine and accessible to all students.
• Create a Supportive School Environment: Foster a culture where students feel safe, respected, and valued. This includes creating policies that promote inclusivity and promptly addressing bullying and discrimination. Building strong relationships between students and educators can enhance students' sense of belonging and commitment to attending school, while also building a supportive school community.
• Teach Resilience and Life Skills: Incorporate a curriculum that teaches students how to manage stress, build resilience, and develop life skills. Help students understand that while life is full of uncontrollable stressors, they can control their reactions and take steps toward their goals. 
• Validate and Support Students: Ensure that student programs acknowledge the challenges they face but also empower them to take control of their actions and decisions. Provide consistent support and encouragement to help them build self-worth and confidence.
• Engage Parents and Guardians: Work with families to create a cohesive support system for students. Offer workshops and resources that help parents understand and support their children's mental health needs and teach them the same strategies you teach students so they can scaffold and reinforce them at home.
• Monitor and Evaluate Programs: Regularly assess the effectiveness of mental health programs and make adjustments as needed. Collect feedback from students, staff, and parents to ensure the programs meet the community's needs. 

By taking these steps, schools can begin to create a supportive environment that helps students overcome self-doubt, stay motivated, and improve their attendance and performance in school and life. It’s also critical that issues related to screen time are addressed, as excessive screen time significantly harms young people’s mental health.  

Studies reveal that the average teen spends about seven hours a day on screens for entertainment, far exceeding the recommended two hours per day by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The U.S. Surgeon General has even suggested implementing warnings on social media platforms due to their negative impact. Research consistently links excessive screen time and social media use to higher levels of anxiety and depression among students.  

Educators and parents must work together to promote healthy screen time habits. Schools can play a pivotal role in managing screen time effectively: 

• Limit Screen Use in Classrooms: Integrate more hands-on activities, group work, and physical movement into the curriculum to reduce reliance on screens during lessons.
• Educate Students on Screen Time Impact: Incorporate lessons on digital literacy and the effects of excessive screen time into the health and wellness curriculum. Help students understand the importance of balance. 
• Create Screen-Free Zones: Designate areas in the school, such as cafeterias and common rooms, as screen-free zones to encourage face-to-face interactions and downtime from devices. 
• Promote Active Breaks: Encourage regular breaks during school hours where students can engage in physical activities or mindfulness exercises instead of screen-based activities. 
• Model Healthy Behavior: Teachers and staff can model healthy screen time habits by limiting their own use of devices during school hours and engaging with students in person. 

By promoting mental health and fostering healthier screen habits, schools can significantly improve students' mental health, sleep patterns, and overall school performance. When students learn to tap into their internal strengths and listen to their inner coach (instead of their inner critic), they can navigate tough times in positive, healthy ways, leading to better well-being and performance. 

As we gear up for the 2024-25 school year, let’s focus on these key strategies that address the root causes of absenteeism. By providing mental health support and fostering healthier screen habits our students desperately need, we can help ensure all students have the chance to thrive academically and succeed personally, now and in the future. 

A version of this post first appeared in District Administration.

Katie Dorn is the general manager and founding partner of EmpowerU, a leading national provider of mental health skills and support for schools. 

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