Beyond the Backpack: Cultivating Belonging and Mental Health

Emotional well-being, school climate, and identity-affirming environments are keys to how students perform and thrive. Research shows that youth from marginalized backgrounds face increased stress in school environments. For example, Black and Latino students frequently experience implicit bias, microaggressions, and disciplinary disparities (Malone and colleagues, 2022). Transgender students also encounter misgendering, exclusion from gendered spaces, and bullying from peers or adults. These stressors affect how safe and capable students feel at school. When students don’t feel seen or valued, they are more likely to disengage academically.

How Mental Health Affects Academic Performance

According to the American Psychological Association (2024), 40 percent of students experienced sadness and hopelessness, and 20 percent of students reported being bullied at school. Students struggling with anxiety, depression, or trauma are more likely to have difficulty concentrating, completing tasks, and engaging in learning. Environmental factors rooted in cultural or identity-based exclusion can increase school difficulties due to mental health challenges.

Tips for Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being

As a clinical psychologist working closely with youth from diverse cultural, racial, and gender identities, I’ve seen the profound effect that emotionally attuned and culturally responsive support can have on a student’s mental health and academic performance. Here are five critical strategies to support youth mental health this school year.

1. Create Safe, Affirming Conversations at Home

As a parent, you are one of the most powerful support systems. It is necessary to affirm your child’s identity at home. Youth who experience racism, homophobia, transphobia, or cultural exclusion often carry the emotional weight of these experiences silently. Provide time for your child to process experiences with you openly and without judgment. Daily or weekly check-ins can be helpful. You can use open-ended questions such as “Did anything happen today that made you feel uncomfortable or left out?” Or, “Were there moments today where you felt proud of who you are?”

For Black and Latino children, normalize conversations about race and identity. Research shows that racial socialization, which involves having intentional conversations about race, discrimination, and racial pride, can help protect youth from the negative psychological effects of racism (Neblett and colleagues, 2012; Turner, 2024). For transgender youth, use their chosen name and pronouns consistently, and advocate for their right to do the same in school. Respecting gender identity is a crucial form of mental health support, and research has shown that it significantly reduces depression and suicide risk (Russell and colleagues, 2018).

2. Build Routines That Foster Stability

Adjusting back to the school year may also require re-establishing routines for your child. For many students, transitioning from summer break back to school can feel chaotic. Daily routines offer a sense of control and predictability that can reduce anxiety and help young people manage school-related stress. Here are a few ways to work with your child to co-create a daily routine that includes a consistent bed- and wake-up time, time for homework with scheduled breaks, opportunities for movement or outdoor time, and quiet time to wind down before bed (without screens). For teens, identify healthy boundaries around social media use. Teens should get adequate sleep, and a healthy limit on social media use is necessary for optimal mental health and academic success.

3. Partner With Teachers and School Counselors

Parents can be proactive. Reach out to teachers, counselors, and administrators within the first month of school to open communication. Talk with school staff about what helps your child feel safe, confident, and seen. If your child has any pre-existing mental health difficulties or has experienced bullying in the past, it may be helpful to let your child’s teacher know to contact you if they notice any concerns. In some cases, it may also be helpful to include your child in these conversations so they feel supported by you and the teacher.

4. Model Emotion Regulation and Coping Skills

Children learn how to cope by observing their parents and adults manage stress. If you suppress your emotions, lash out in anger, or ignore problems, your child may learn to do the same. One of the best ways to support your child’s mental health is to model healthy emotional expression. This may involve:

• Name your emotions: “I’m feeling overwhelmed right now, so I’m going to take a break and breathe.”
• Share your coping strategies: Let them see you journaling, meditating, taking a walk, or talking to someone you trust.
• Encourage emotional vocabulary: Help them differentiate between emotions like frustration, disappointment, or sadness.

Building this emotional language early can help your child recognize when they need support and empower them to ask for help healthily. You can also seek therapy to help your child find solutions and strategies to cope with life challenges, if needed.

5. Advocate for Systemic Change

Supporting your child’s well-being also means working to improve the systems they are part of. While it can be helpful to advocate for policies in your community, addressing change or inclusivity in the school can be an important step. Schools should not just be places of academic instruction. They should also be inclusive environments where every student feels valued, respected, and empowered. Below are a few ways you can advocate for your child:

• Attend school board or PTA meetings and speak up about inclusive policies.
• Encourage staff anti-racism training and culturally responsive teaching practices.
• Advocate for access to mental health services in school settings.
• Support student-led organizations that provide safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth or cultural affinity groups.

Your role as a parent or caregiver is not to have all the answers but to be a supportive presence in your child’s life. The back-to-school season is an opportunity to reinforce the message that “they are not alone and their well-being matters.” When young people feel this kind of support, they are more likely to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.