2005
As School Psychologists we need to be aware of the mental health needs of children and help meet these needs. There are a number of ways that we can do this. First we need to attend workshops and read any information that is available on mental health issues in children. We also need to make ourselves available to children, providing them with information and helping them deal with these issues. We need to help educate teachers about the mental health needs of children and what they can do in the classroom, hallways, cafeteria, on the playground, etc. to help meet these needs. We need to talk to parents about their children and help them meet the mental health needs of their children. We need to get into the classroom and teach social skills and provide self-esteem building activities to children starting in kindergarten and continuing throughout the elementary grades and into high school. Providing counseling to children individually and in small groups, teaching them relaxation techniques and being there for them in times of stress would also be beneficial. We also need to be aware of help that is available outside the schools at public and private agencies and make referrals to these agencies on cases that we can’t deal with in the schools.
