Tips for Talking to Teachers About Your Child’s Mental Health

Parenting a child with a mental health diagnosis can be nerve-racking. You want to protect their privacy and make sure they have access to every resource available. We know this can be a difficult line to straddle. And you may have questions about whether and how to talk to your child’s teachers about their mental health. 

At NPS, we’ve seen just about every possible scenario, and while there’s no cookie-cutter solution to these questions, we can offer advice and support to parents in this position. Keep reading to learn more about our thoughts on talking to teachers about your student’s mental health. And if you’d like to speak more specifically about your child and their mental health challenges, be sure to give us a call. 

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Should I Share a Mental Health Diagnosis with My Child’s Teachers?

Before the pandemic, about 1 in 5 children had a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder. It’s likely those numbers have only grown in the time since. So, if you’re wrestling with what to do as a parent of a child with a mental health diagnosis, you aren’t alone.

The answer to whether you should share a diagnosis with your child’s teachers depends on several factors. You may worry about the stigma surrounding mental health and whether your child’s teachers and schoolmates will treat them differently. These are valid concerns, but there are benefits to disclosing a diagnosis to educators as well. Often, schools are required to make accommodations, and they may have special programs available for students with mental health disorders. 

Here’s what we recommend you do before making a final decision:

  1. Ask your child how they feel about sharing their diagnosis with a teacher.
  2. Call your child’s school and ask about the kinds of resources and programs they have available.
  3. Ask your child’s teachers if they have any concerns about your child’s academic and/or social performance. 
  4. Look into other resources outside of your child’s school, including individual or group therapy.

Gathering information before making a decision is the best way to give your child what they need. 

The Connection Between Mental Health and Learning

As you weigh the pros and cons of talking to your child’s teacher, it may help to understand the connection between mental health and learning. In our decades of serving children with mental health disorders and their families, we’ve seen these kinds of challenges become an issue in the classroom: 

  • Difficulty staying focused and organized
  • Low self-confidence
  • Withdrawal from friends and educators
  • Lack of energy and motivation
  • Difficulty remembering what’s been taught

Getting your child the emotional support they need is the best thing you can do to support their academic success and overall wellness. While informing teachers of a mental health diagnosis is not always appropriate, it can be a great way to provide educators with the information they need to support your child’s learning. 

How Teachers Can Address Mental Health in the Classroom

Students with mental health challenges often have classroom challenges as well. Fortunately, many teachers today have the skills and/or the resources to create a safe learning environment for their students. Teachers who know about a child’s mental health disorder can:

  • Avoid stigmatization in language and action
  • Maintain open communication between parents and teachers
  • Give the student breaks throughout the day
  • Collaborate with school counselors and other staff to promote the student’s well-being
  • Model healthy emotional and mental behaviors
  • Practice empathy and compassion for the child’s struggles

Creating a supportive classroom environment makes it easier for a struggling student to feel safe and find success. We have found that most teachers who are aware of the struggles of their students want to provide the necessary support and kindness. 

How to Talk to Your Child’s Teachers About Their Mental Health

If you decide that talking to your child’s teachers about their mental health is the right path forward, you may wonder how best to approach the conversation. Before you talk to a teacher, remind yourself that every classroom is full of students with competing needs and challenges. Be respectful of the teacher’s time and understand that creating a supportive learning environment that works for your child won’t happen overnight. 

With that in mind, we recommend following these steps:

  • Schedule a dedicated time to speak about your child’s needs
  • Frame the relationship as a partnership between yourself and the teacher
  • Provide the teacher with all the appropriate context, including the mental health diagnosis
  • Ask for their observations and/or feedback

During this meeting, you can also bring up the topic of a 504 plan or other resources that may be available. Get the teacher’s thoughts on what would be appropriate given the circumstances. 

What Is a 504 Plan, and Are Children with Mental Health Challenges Eligible?

Section 504 is a federal law that protects students with disabilities from discrimination at school. Its goal is to provide students with the resources and support they need to thrive alongside their classmates, and it does offer protections for students with depression or other mental health challenges in certain situations. Typically, if the mental health disorder limits the student in major life activities, they will be eligible for a 504 plan.

With a 504 plan in place, your student may be eligible to receive help from a dedicated support person, like a counselor. They may also be given short breaks during the day, extended time for assignments, and extra liberty for makeup work. 

Remember, Section 504 is a federal law. So if you believe a school or teacher is not meeting the requirements, you may be able to file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights for your state. 

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