The Connection Between Literacy and Mental Health in At-Risk Youth
The Connection Between Literacy and Mental Health in At-Risk Youth The conversation around youth mental health often involves issues such as therapy waitlists, social media, bullying, or the stresses of growing up in our time. All of that matters. But there’s another driver that often goes unaddressed: literacy. For many at-risk youth — including students experiencing homelessness, foster care involvement, community violence, discrimination, or family instability — reading challenges are not just an academic problem. They can become a daily source of stress, shame, and isolation that spills into anxiety, depression, and behavioral struggles. The reverse is also true: Poor mental health can make it harder...
Mental Health Awareness Month: Managing Student Stress and Anxiety
School years should be a time of growth, discovery, and excitement as students get to taste the world and all its possibilities. Yet this time often comes with its share of negative emotions, too. The American Institute of Stress reports that 75% of high school students and 50% of middle school students are consistently stressed by schoolwork, while 70% of U.S. teens (aged 13-17) consider anxiety and depression to be major problems among their peers. Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to highlight student mental health and take a closer look at how these issues affect learners in every corner of the nation....