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How digital tools can help support mental health

Blog
10 Feb 2023

When faced with issues such as this at scale, digital has to come into play; all other industries have deployed online solutions to solve systemic issues and it’s time that the education system embraced digital in the same way – as a friend and not an enemy. EdTech wellbeing tools can help teachers to better support student mental health demands without having to become professional counsellors, and with little lift.

Let’s explore further how digital wellbeing tools can improve the way we support student mental health challenges as a simple and straightforward first step.

Digital Technology and Pupil Comfort Levels

Young people are far more comfortable discussing their mental health online than holding a face-to-face conversation. Kooth (the UK’s leading wellbeing provider) have evidenced this over two decades by delivering wellbeing engagement digitally through interactive chat and IM.

This is because chat offers a significant degree of anonymity which in turn encourages youngsters to be open about their feelings and experiences. Digital also allows young people to access resources at any time and when they need them most, including during school hours or after school when school-based therapy sessions may not be available.

Supporting Teachers and Staff

EdTech tools also help teachers who don’t have the necessary skills or confidence around mental wellbeing or intervention, but who still want to provide support to pupils struggling with their mental health, to engage positively.

Digital apps and EdTech tools provide teachers with the opportunity to recognise and identify signs of pupil distress early, allowing them to take action before matters get worse. With the right digital software and PD, teachers can create appropriate interventions that will help students manage their emotions better and feel more secure in their environment.

Furthermore, EdTech can certainly save teachers time by providing resources that allow them to give more effective guidance and advice to pupils quickly and without having to spend extra time researching or studying mental health materials outside of class time or their area of core expertise.

The Role of Technology in Mental Health Services

Technology has a massive role in supporting the wellbeing of our young people; however, it is important that technology is used only as a supplement for more traditional forms of therapy such as face-to-face counselling sessions and/or group therapy activities.

EdTech should never be used as a replacement for these services; rather, it should be used alongside as an additional tool to help provide better outcomes for students’ emotional wellbeing. Indeed, when used correctly EdTech can serve as an invaluable resource that can help bridge the gap between traditional forms of counselling and students who may not have access or feel uncomfortable talking directly with a professional therapist.

In summary

EdTech has opened up many new possibilities and options to support the mental wellbeing of our young during this unprecedented time where 64% of parents worry about the wellbeing of their children, and 76% of teachers feel the same.

By allowing pupils to gain access to high quality online resources such as on-demand counselling services, community platforms where students can discuss their feelings openly with no fear of judgement, or digital content libraries providing a breadth of support material, it’s easy to see how EdTech can become an invaluable asset in helping our youngsters cope with whatever life throws at the next.

Gluu have developed an online learning support service called askOLA. To find out more, please click here.