DMGroup Spotlight on Student Mental Health
Supporting student mental health has never been more important. As schools navigate the post-COVID landscape, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an increasing need to address challenges such as anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness among youth.
Student mental health was already declining before the pandemic, with 37% of students reporting persistent sadness or hopelessness in 2019, up from 26% in 2009. The pandemic worsened the situation, pushing the figure to 42% in 2021.
In this Spotlight, we provide resources to help district leaders provide strong social, emotional, and behavioral supports for students—empowering them to thrive both in and out of the classroom as they head into the new year.
Three Ways District Leaders Can Improve Social, Emotional & Behavioral Supports
Enhancing social, emotional, and behavioral supports for students is a key priority for school and district leaders, reflecting their strong commitment to students' needs and well-being.
As superintendents and district leaders work to enhance supports, these three actions can drive significant impact this school year and beyond.
Social Emotional Well-Being Books for Your Reading List
In Permission to Feel, Dr. Marc Brackett, director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and a professor in the Yale Child Study Center, argues that emotions are central to our well-being, decision-making, and relationships. The book introduces the RULER framework (Recognize, Understand, Label, Express, Regulate), which helps individuals identify, understand, and manage their emotions effectively.
Brackett emphasizes that giving ourselves and others "permission to feel" is key to building emotional intelligence and creating healthier, more empathetic environments, particularly in schools and workplaces.
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First published in 2014, The Body Keeps the Score by acclaimed psychiatrist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk remains the New York Times bestseller. Van der Kolk explores how trauma impacts not only those directly affected but also those around them. He explains how trauma imprints on the body, mind, and soul, often hidden by the mind's defense mechanisms.
With over 30 years of experience working with trauma survivors, Van der Kolk offers hope by sharing his explorations of solutions such as internal family systems therapy, neurofeedback, yoga, creative expression, and much more. He highlights the crucial role schools can play in helping traumatized children thrive.
Exclusive at DMG Summit 2025: Explore Social and Emotional Well-Being with Dr. Marc Brackett
We are honored to welcome Dr. Marc Brackett, the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and a professor in the Yale Child Study Center, as the keynote speaker at the DMG Summit 2025!
In this keynote, Dr. Brackett will explore the profound impact of taking a systemic approach to Social and Emotional Learning Well-Being within schools.
Along with his colleague Karen Niemi, Executive Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Dr. Brackett will also lead a workshop focused on evidence-based strategies to help educators and students improve emotional regulation.
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