Loading...
Master's Thesis: How Can Early Elementary Teachers Support the Mental Health of Students of Color in Urban Schools?
Polster, Katherine Lauren
Polster, Katherine Lauren
Citations
Altmetric:
Contributor
Photographer
Author
Artist
Editor
Advisor
Keywords
Mental health—United States—Children—Services, Urban schools—United States—Social aspects, Minority students—Mental health—United States, Teachers—United States—Attitudes, Culturally relevant pedagogy—United States
Local ID
Collections
Files
Loading...
Kat P. Final Draft.pdf
Adobe PDF, 562.09 KB
Abstract
A student’s mental health is a key determinant of their academic success. In urban schools, there is limited access, diagnosis, and mental health services for students of color. Health conditions related to poverty are common in urban areas with high levels of segregation and limits the accessibility of physical and mental health services for people of color. Health is also affected due to exposure to violence, poor nutrition, unsafe housing, and lack of adequate and non-discriminatory physical and mental health services. Because of these high stressors in urban areas, students of color are in more need of mental health services in comparison to their peers. However, because of racist housing policies that cause for areas to have higher concentration of poverty, these families are unable to afford health insurance and adequate health services. Because students are not receiving effective mental health services, the responsibility of the students’ mental health often falls in the hands of their teacher. This paper discusses why it is not only the teachers’ responsibility, but the collaborative efforts of the teachers, school counselors (if available), parents, and communities to learn, communicate effectively, and strengthen confidence in racial pride, to meet students of color where they are, and to meet their mental health needs all to ensure their academic success.