Mental Health Group for Elementary-Aged Children

Abstract

Children learn many skills during their time in elementary school. One important area that is not sufficiently addressed in curricula is student mental health. Allowing students to address their mental health needs in the classroom improves their overall outcomes. This intervention is a short weekly group completed within the classroom by the classroom teacher and the school's counselor. Implementing this low-cost, short mental health group in classrooms can help to address this gap in student learning. In this group, the children will have the opportunity to gain a stronger relationship with an adult and learn to cope with loss. The group will also teach students to express their emotions appropriately to their peers and to adults. This mental health group provides social support and mental health skills to students so that they are less likely to commit school shootings.