Mental Health and Substance Use Resources for School Nurses and Administrators

The following information is specifically designed for use by professionals in a school setting.

• Self-Care Toolkit for Students
  This toolkit developed by the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital helps students develop stress management techniques. It walks educators through a guided activity that they can complete in the classroom.
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)
  A dedicated 3-digit number for callers looking for suicidal crisis support or support for emotional distress.
• Lifestyle Medicine Toolkit for Adolescent Mental Health
  This toolkit provides education on various lifestyle components related to mood disorders. It helps adolescents incorporate lifestyle changes to prevent and treat mental health conditions.
• Calm Kit
  Instructions for creating calming tools for the pediatric and adolescent populations from the American College for Lifestyle Medicine.
• Coping with Stress
  Evidence-based information for elementary, middle, and high school teachers from the Child Mind Institute and its California Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids Project.
• Improving Social Connections
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers this one-page information for schools and families.
• Youth Mental Health First Aid
  This skills-based training course for teachers, school staff, parents and others, teaches how to help an adolescent experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge.
• Racial Equity and School Health
  The Mass.Gov website includes information and resources on racial equity and school health.
• SAMHSA: Talk. They Hear You.^® Substance Use Prevention Campaign
  The “Talk. They Hear You.” Student Assistance Resources Guide provides concrete examples for school administrators and student assistance teams to implement SAMHSA’s underage drinking and substance use prevention campaign.

• Massachusetts Responds to the Crisis in Children’s Behavioral Health
  The January 2023 report from the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans provides information on the current state of children’s mental health in our communities, identifies concrete steps to address problems and offers conclusions and summary recommendations.

• Mental Health and Gender-Affirming Care Resource Guide for Massachusetts LGBTQ2IA+ Young People and Their Trusted Adults
  This resource guide from the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, the resource guide includes educational resources to learn more about mental health topics or LGBTQ2IA+ identities.

• Association of Screening and Brief Intervention With Substance Use in Massachusetts Middle and High Schools Findings
  This article from JAMA Network Open suggests that school-based SBI programs, mandatory in Massachusetts, may help to reduce substance use among middle school and female students.

• Supporting Students with Eating Disorders
  The National Eating Disorders Association provides information for educators and school nurses on how eating disorders may present in a school setting. The article also discusses how to support students confidentially and in collaboration with parents/guardians.