Addressing Student Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression
Colorín Colorado
The topic of this article, written in 2018, has resurfaced as an issue of great concern in 2025. The resources found here could be a basis of PD and discussions in schools today. Listed below are each of the four sections of the article with the suggested tips for implementing each topic. Each part also contains videos and numerous links to additional resources and articles.
Overview: A description from school personnel about how issues with immigration impacted their students.
Identify resources for addressing student anxiety and depression: First, learn how anxiety impacts students at different ages. Then create a team that includes educators, mental health professionals, parents, and others. Finally, build on current supports, and be careful about privacy for both students and staff.
Trauma-informed instruction for immigrant students: Become aware of the sources of trauma that are manifested in students’ behavior, and provide space for students to tell their stories either with one individual or, if they choose, with their peers..
Take a closer look when you notice changes in a student’s behavior: When a student misbehaves, it is necessary to discover the cause to avoid a response such as discipline or a referral to special education, which could make the situation worse.
“It is also essential to use a team approach that includes a variety of perspectives, including that of the family and an interpreter or cultural liaison, in order to:
- address concerns or changes in student behavior
- ensure that families have access to all information in their home language.”
Learn how your families approach social-emotional health: Since this differs in students’ cultures, it is important to learn what strategies they use to cope with stress.
Sean Slade addresses school leaders, but these suggestions are valid for all. He proposes that “It is time for us to change our way of thinking and our reactions, because these changes–or rather, this state of change–will soon become the norm.” He reflects back to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic when successful school leaders relinquished the superhero stance and adopted a novel approach that embraced the uncertainty, sought answers rather than give them, and became vulnerable.