Educators, administrators, parents, and anyone who’s been to a school or college campus lately knows students are struggling like never before. They are depressed, anxious, and—increasingly—even suicidal. Many are battling substance misuse or addiction. And horrifically, more young people are dying each day from accidental fentanyl overdoses. Facing any of these problems is hard enough on its own. But when students feel added shame, blame, and isolation for these diseases, it only adds to their struggle.
The stigma around mental health and substance misuse runs deep, says student wellbeing activist David Magee. But there’s a LOT schools can do to stop it—if they’re willing.
“Many schools fear being labeled a ‘drug’ school, and while this kind of thinking is misinformed and misplaced, it repeatedly happens,” says Magee, author of the upcoming book Things Have Changed: What Every Parent (and Educator) Should Know About the Student Mental Health and Substance Misuse Crisis (Matt Holt, August 2023, ISBN: 978-1-6377439-6-6, $22.00) and award-winning book Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and Loss.
“Schools can’t have a drug problem, though, because they are merely collections of students from families within the community,” he asserts. “Substance issues are family and community issues that show up in our schools, colleges, and universities. The same is true of mental health disorders, and countless students at many upstanding schools suffer in both areas.”
And yet, some schools have feared such labeling to the point that they don’t offer the needed education about substance misuse. But now it’s crunch time, says Magee. The pandemic shed light on mental health struggles and brought the need for change to the forefront.
“Schools and colleges are in a great position to help students navigate these challenges,” says Magee, who has dedicated his life to giving students the tools they need to thrive and find the joy they crave more than anything else. “It begins with breaking down the stigma and letting students—of all ages—know that they are loved and supported.”
This is a personal mission for Magee, who’s firstborn son, William, died from an accidental drug overdose in 2013. It’s why he founded the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at the University of Mississippi, which seeks to understand how best to prevent or break the cycle of unhealthy habits and addictions that plague so many college students, and the William Magee Center for AOD and Wellness Education.
Here are six ways educators can help stop the stigma and get students the help they need.
Tackle the stigma head on. Everyone involved in higher education should be united to normalize mental health issues and substance misuse, says Magee. This is the only way young people will feel comfortable talking about their struggles or asking for help. A few ways educators can help:
- Share real-life examples of people coping with mental health or substance use disorder to put a face on it.
- Avoid using judgmental tones or words about anyone who suffers mental health or substance use disorder. (And be sure to speak up if you hear a student being judgmental.)
- Let children know that substance use disorder is a treatable disease, not a personal weakness.
- If you’ve received counseling or struggled, share that experience with a student who needs to feel less alone.
Make use of peer-to-peer educators… There’s a wise saying that goes, “Students get students on drugs, and students can get students off drugs,” (or keep them from starting in the first place). Magee urges elementary, middle, and high schools and universities to create peer-to-peer programs to educate and support students. These student-led organizations are proven to be effective at educating young people about mental health issues and substance misuse.
The William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at Ole Miss has developed peer-to-peer education teams to address middle school and high school students. They call them happiness teams, because almost every student wants happiness and joy, but they don’t want someone giving them a “drug talk.” Rather, the Institute trains student engagement team members to connect with students in a relatable manner and help their peers understand how substances steal joy. “Almost every student wants happiness, and they’ll listen to strategies for getting there from fellow students,” says Magee. “Team members are trained in delivery and in telling their stories with authenticity, with details of challenges faced and overcome in order to break the stigma and deliver hope.”
…And start these conversations MUCH sooner. It’s critical to start these conversations earlier than you might think, says Magee. Imagine if students, beginning in the sixth grade, received repeated engagement with teams of storytelling peers sharing personal experiences and clearly stated facts of how those students can find and keep joy. By breaking the stigma upstream and reaching youth earlier, we turn the tide of the epidemic today and tomorrow as those students will be better-prepared parents and mentors one day.
Talk to students about the “tools” for wellbeing, health, and success. Creating sustainable joy begins with healthy habits, says Magee. All students need a “toolbox” of habits, practices, and mindsets to help them maintain their mental health, avoid dangerous behavior like substance misuse, and create the wellness they crave. Educators can help instill these tools in students of every age. Some essential tools that will serve young people in school and throughout life are:
- Plenty of sleep each night (not once in a while). Sleep deprivation can cause behaviors mimicking the symptoms of ADHD, along with rollercoaster emotions and impulses and increased risk for anxiety and depression. Young people need eight to ten hours of sleep each night.
- Daily exercise, fresh air, and sunlight. A daily walk or run sends invigorating blood to the brain and body, making students feel more alive and alert while improving their mood. Encourage students to get movement every day.
- Intentional social media use. There’s nothing wrong with using social media, but it’s not healthy to be online 24/7. Advise students to monitor their stress and anxiety levels (pay attention to feelings of nervousness or inferiority) and know when to take a break or stop altogether.
Make counseling services visible and accessible. Any student should have access to mental health services. In a grade school setting, this might be the guidance counselor, school psychologist, social worker, or school nurse. Most college campuses provide counseling centers that offer mental health support. What’s most important, though, is that students know what programs, services, or treatments are available, and that they know how to make an appointment.
Help students stay in school while they get the treatment they need. It’s crucial that schools create a clear path for students navigating substance misuse. All too often, they must choose between attending classes (or finishing out the school year) and seeking treatment. Magee insists that students should be able to get the help they need without academic consequences. He recommends schools and universities find ways to accommodate recovery treatments the way they would any other disease (because substance use disorder is, in fact, a disease). If possible, students should have the option to attend outpatient programs while remaining in school.
None of these solutions are simple. But the mental health and substance misuse crisis has escalated to the point that many schools feel they can no longer ignore it. Nor should they.
“Stopping this crisis depends on parents, educators, students, and communities all working together like never before,” concludes Magee. “Having caring educators join in these efforts will help our children—of all ages—find the health and happiness they truly deserve.”
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About David Magee:
David Magee is the best-selling author of Things Have Changed: What Every Parent (and Educator) Should Know About the Student Mental Health and Substance Misuse Crisis and Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and Loss—a Publisher’s Weekly bestseller, named a Best Book of the South, and featured on CBS Mornings—and other nonfiction books. A changemaker in student and family mental health and substance misuse, he’s a creator of the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at the University of Mississippi and a frequent K–12 and university educational and motivational speaker, helping students and parents find and keep their joy. Learn more at www.daviddmagee.com.
About the Book:
Things Have Changed: What Every Parent (and Educator) Should Know About the Student Mental Health and Substance Misuse Crisis (Matt Holt, August 2023, ISBN: 978-1-6377439-6-6, $22.00) will be available at bookstores nationwide and from major online booksellers.
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