(2024-2025) Health: Student Mental Health: Awareness, Intervention and Referral

Stress and anxiety are two different words that mean the same thing. True False

False

The term "health" is best defined as "the absence of disease." True False

False

You can be held liable if school personnel investigate a report you've made and determine there's no cause for concern. True False

False

You have a student, Jamie, who has been acting out in class and struggling with his schoolwork. During a private conversation, Jamie confides that his parents are going through a difficult divorce. Based on this information, which of the following is most likely contributing to Jamie's behavioral and academic challenges? a. Jamie is experiencing an adverse childhood experience related to family disruption. b. Jamie is going through a normal phase of adolescent development. c. Jamie's teachers are not providing enough support in the classroom. d. Jamie has an underlying mental health disorder unrelated to his home life.

a. Jamie is experiencing an adverse childhood experience related to family disruption.

Your student, Jordan, always seems cheerful and engaged in your class. Jordan maintains good grades and participates actively. However, during a private conversation, Jordan says for the past few weeks he's been feeling down and unmotivated at home. Based on this information, which of the following is the most likely explanation for Jordan's behavior? a. Jordan is experiencing "smiling depression" and masking his true feelings of depression. b. Jordan is going through a normal phase of adolescent mood swings. c. Jordan's cheerful demeanor in class is a cry for attention. d. Jordan's home life issues are unrelated to his positive behavior in the classroom.

a. Jordan is experiencing "smiling depression" and masking his true feelings of depression.

Which of the following behaviors is most likely to indicate a young child is experiencing persistent anxiety in the classroom? a. The child exhibits a range of physical symptoms, such as stomachaches and frequent bathroom breaks. b. The child falls asleep at their desk during class. c. The child is frequently distracted and has difficulty focusing on their work. d. The child is withdrawn and avoids participating in the classroom.

a. The child exhibits a range of physical symptoms, such as stomachaches and frequent bathroom breaks.

Which of these is a possible sign of anxiety that doctors look for? a. difficulty concentrating or sleeping b. feeling more relaxed than usual c. lasting more than two weeks d. all of these

a. difficulty concentrating or sleeping

Which of the following is a common symptom of depression? a. problems with sleep b. a sudden, but temporary, burst in energy c. an unexplained ability to focus on certain subjects at school d. increased interest in preferred activities

a. problems with sleep

With ___________, people can usually figure out what's making them nervous, afraid or worried. a. stress b. anxiety

a. stress

Your student Alex has been struggling with restlessness, inattention, and emotional outbursts. Which classroom supports would be most appropriate to try with Alex? a. Provide Alex a quiet space to work independently and avoid group activities. b. Encourage Alex to use fidget toys, take movement breaks, and offer choices when possible. c. Refer Alex to the school counselor for additional support outside the classroom. d. Speak to Alex's parents about medication management for their ADHD symptoms.

b. Encourage Alex to use fidget toys, take movement breaks, and offer choices when possible.

Which of the following changes in ADHD symptoms is a teacher most likely to observe in adolescent students? a. Improved organizational skills and better grades b. Hyperactivity transitioning to restlessness, continued inattention, and challenges with emotional regulation c. Fewer issues with impulse control and maintaining friendships d. No significant changes from the student's ADHD symptoms in childhood

b. Hyperactivity transitioning to restlessness, continued inattention, and challenges with emotional regulation

Which of the following is the MOST appropriate action for a teacher to take when supporting a student who is struggling with anxiety in the classroom? a. Refer the student to the school counselor immediately for a formal mental health evaluation. b. Implement a range of classroom-based strategies to help the student manage their anxiety, such as emotional check-ins, modeling regulation skills, and providing structure. c. Speak to the student's parents and recommend they seek outside professional treatment for the student's anxiety. d. Excuse the student from any activities or assignments that may trigger their anxiety, to avoid exacerbating the problem.

b. Implement a range of classroom-based strategies to help the student manage their anxiety, such as emotional check-ins, modeling regulation skills, and providing structure.

Mental health issues are: a. uncommon b. diagnosable c. untreatable d. all of these

b. diagnosable

What are adverse childhood experiences? a. diagnosable conditions that require a lifetime of positive reinforcement to eliminate bad memories b. traumatic events from a person's early life that are a significant cause of mental health concerns c. negative episodes that strengthen a person's resolve, leading to a healthier mental outlook over time d. a term that's synonymous with systemic bullying within the same school district

b. traumatic events from a person's early life that are a significant cause of mental health concerns

What percentage of US children aged 3-17 have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder according to the 2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report? a. 10% b. 15% c. 20% d. 25%

c. 20%

Your student, Alyssa, has been exhibiting several concerning behaviors in your classroom, including physical aggression towards peers, frequent lying, and a disregard for school rules. Which of the following is most likely indicative of conduct disorder in Alyssa? a. Alyssa's behaviors are typical for her age and do not necessarily indicate a disorder. b. Alyssa's behaviors suggest she may have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) rather than conduct disorder. c. Alyssa's behaviors, including violence, lack of remorse, and rule-breaking, are characteristic of conduct disorder. d. Alyssa's behaviors are likely due to an unrelated mental health condition, such as ADHD or depression.

c. Alyssa's behaviors, including violence, lack of remorse, and rule-breaking, are characteristic of conduct disorder.

Which of the following is true about depression? a. Depression is unusual for school-age children. b. Depression is usually severe. c. Depression can last a long time - weeks or even years. d. all of these

c. Depression can last a long time - weeks or even years.

Which option would best help Finn? a. Mrs. Lee could stay out of it and let Finn's parents address the situation. Surely they've noticed his personality change. b. Mrs. Lee could wait another week or two to see if Finn's behavior returns to normal. c. Mrs. Lee could consult the school counselor herself to determine the best course of action regarding Finn.

c. Mrs. Lee could consult the school counselor herself to determine the best course of action regarding Finn.

Which of the following strategies would be most appropriate to support a student displaying behaviors associated with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD) in your classroom? a. Isolate the student from their peers and focus on one-on-one instruction. b. Establish clear rules and consequences, and strictly enforce them. c. Work to build a positive connection with the student and provide opportunities for emotional regulation. d. Refer the student to the school counselor and let them handle the behavioral concerns.

c. Work to build a positive connection with the student and provide opportunities for emotional regulation.

If chronic or severe, adverse childhood experiences will likely do what to a child? a. strengthen their problem-solving capabilities over time b. allow them to have deeper emotional connections with others as adults c. make it more likely they will develop mental health issues d. all of these

c. make it more likely they will develop mental health issues

How often would a student have to show specific symptoms to be diagnosed with clinical depression? a. at least three months b. one month c. two weeks d. five days

c. two weeks

Which grade level had the highest reported rate of illicit substance use in 2023? a. 8th grade b. 10th grade c. 11th grade d. 12th grade

d. 12th grade

Which of the following mental health disorders is considered one of the most common among school-age children? a. Substance abuse b. Autism Spectrum Disorder c. Anorexia d. Anxiety

d. Anxiety

Which of the following is the most appropriate action for a teacher to take if they notice warning signs of concern in a student, even if the student resists getting help? a. Wait to see if the student's behavior improves on its own before taking further steps. b. Speak to the student privately, express concerns, and encourage them to seek help from the school counselor. c. Immediately refer the student to the school counselor or administrator without discussing it with them first. d. Report the observations about the student's behavior to the appropriate school authorities, even if the student is resistant to getting help.

d. Report the observations about the student's behavior to the appropriate school authorities, even if the student is resistant to getting help.

You notice one of your students, Robin, has been increasingly withdrawn, neglecting her personal hygiene, and her grades have dropped significantly in recent weeks. Based on this information, which of the following actions should you take? a. Speak to Robin privately to understand what's going on, and then refer them to the school counselor. b. Assume Robin is just going through a phase and wait to see if the behavior improves on its own. c. Contact Robin's parents and recommend they seek professional help for their child. d. Report your concerns about Robin's behavior to the appropriate school authorities immediately.

d. Report your concerns about Robin's behavior to the appropriate school authorities immediately.

Which of these is true of mental illnesses and substance use disorders when taken together? a. They can occur at the same time. b. One disorder can make the other disorder worse. c. One disorder can be a contributing factor to the other disorder. d. all of these

d. all of these

Which of the following is one of the most common mental health disorders among school-age children? a. substance abuse b. PTSD c. anorexia d. anxiety

d. anxiety