Resources

Students have been through a lot since the outbreak of the pandemic. School buildings closed their doors, quarantine orders kept them from friends and loved ones, and pandemic-related stresses—including anxieties about health, academic struggles, and unsafe home situations—have been overwhelming for many. It truly is a surreal time for our students.

During the 2019–20 school year, Gaggle flagged 64,000 references to suicide or self-harm in students’ online activity. Students may turn to cutting, a form of self-harm, as a way to release their pain and emotions. Teenage cutting is quite common in today’s world and is often used for relief, self-expression, or as a response to trauma, such as abuse.

Anxiety and depression are on the rise among today’s students, with 70% of teens seeing these issues as a major problem. 90% of cases of anxiety are treatable, but only one-third of those who suffer receive treatment.

The shift to remote learning has heightened threats to digital student safety, including increased exposure to inappropriate content and predators.

Watch our panel of experts as they discuss how to identify students in crisis and the plans for addressing students’ mental health during in-person and distance learning.