Back to School Resources

Building Student Resilience Through Shared Resources

As we gear up for the new school year, we understand the importance of mental health for students, parents, and educators. That’s why we are adding to our comprehensive youth mental health resource library this back to school season. Navigating the challenges of academics, social dynamics, and personal growth can be overwhelming but, together, we can build a resilient and thriving community. Our resources aim to support educators, guide parents, and empower students on their mental health journey during the school year and beyond.

Resource Sections:

Parents and Caregivers

Discover useful insights and resources to foster your child's mental health throughout the school year.

New! Bullying Warning Signs

Parents and caregivers need to pay close attention to their child’s behavior if they believe they’re involved in bullying. Use this resource to learn the warning signs and get tips about starting a conversation with children about bullying.

New! Suicide Warning Signs

Over the last decade, teens have indicated increased feelings of suicidality. It’s important for parents to know the warning signs, learn how to ask the question, and how to navigate a mental health crisis.

New! Crisis and Relapse Plan

Before a crisis begins, it’s useful to have a plan. Document your emergency resources, write down the steps you’ll take, and explore how to safely address a relapse.

New! 10 Questions on a Tuesday

Use these questions to talk with your child about ways to support their mental health. Learn how they like to de-stress, stay connected to their growing hobbies and interests, and understand what makes them anxious with this resource.

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New! A Week of Wellness

Use these questions to talk with your child about ways to support their mental health. Learn how they like to de-stress, stay connected to their growing hobbies and interests, and understand what makes them anxious with this resource.

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New! The Three C's for Parents and Guardians

Use these questions to talk with your child about ways to support their mental health. Learn how they like to de-stress, stay connected to their growing hobbies and interests, and understand what makes them anxious with this resource.

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Educators

Access vital tools to identify signs of distress and cultivate a compassionate learning environment. Empower your students emotionally with useful knowledge and skills.

New! Classroom Mental Health Contract

Breaking stigma surrounding mental health can happen in the classroom. With this resource, educators can help their students talk openly and frequently about mental health and well-being.

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New! Mental Wellness Moments for Educators

This resource has daily suggestions for how to bring mental health wellness into the classroom. From Monday Moods to Fridays for Self-Care, these suggestions can help students build healthy habits for their mental well-being.

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New! The Three C's Educators

This resource is meant to help educators and their students feel comfortable talking about mental health and wellness. Using these three C’s, educators can connect with students empathetically.

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New! Five Questions for School Staff to Ask When Preparing for an Active Shooter Drill

When preparing for an active shooter drill, it’s important to use trauma-informed approaches. Use this resource to help your students understand what’s happening and how to “debrief” students after the drill.

New! Mindfulness Activities

Developing a state of being aware and present in a moment is called mindfulness. Teaching students how to center themselves and reengage with the world is a crucial skill. Use this resource for strategies to teach students in various age groups about mindfulness.

New! Three Keys for a Successful Back to School Transition

As teachers are preparing their classrooms, it’s important to understand how being trauma-informed can help create a safe and supportive environment for all students.

Students

Discover useful insights and resources to foster your child's mental health throughout the school year.

New! Setting Boundaries Guide

It’s important to set healthy boundaries to take care of our well-being. Students can learn about different types of boundaries, how to set them, and ways to communicate boundaries to others.

New! Commitment Planner

Living a full life comes with many different commitments ranging from family and school to self-care and extracurricular activities. This planner helps students prioritize commitments to prevent burnout and mental exhaustion. 

New! NAMI On Campus At-A-Glance

For students who want to raise mental health awareness at their school, NAMI On Campus is a great opportunity. These are student-led, student-run organizations for high schools and colleges. Find out how to get started with this resource.

New! Social Media: Helpful Tips

Connecting with friends, family, and community can be a great way to use social media. However, we know it’s important to protect our mental health online too. Find out how to engage safely with tips from this guide.

New! Time Management for Students

Balancing school, work, and personal time can be challenging, even for adults! Students can use the tips in this resource to build time management skills.

New! Finding a Trusted Adult

Asking for help can feel scary, embarrassing, and hard. This resource can help students choose an adult to confide in and get the help they need. 

New! Getting the Right Start

For students experiencing a mental health challenge, it can be hard to get help early. This resource helps students consider steps they could take to find help and share what they’re going through.

New! How to Help a Friend

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if our friends are feeling down or if there’s a deeper struggle. There are ten common warning signs that students should know. Use this resource to help students learn the warning signs and understand the next steps they could take to help a friend.

Additional Resources

Back to School Poster: All community organizations play a role in creating a smooth and safe return to school for students. The Back to School Poster may be printed and shared on community boards to spread the word about NAMI’s HelpLine and 988 crisis resources.

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NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).