This question, coming from the SurveyWorks questionnaire that goes to educators and administrators every year, measures the percentage of administrators and educators that answered favorably (Agree or Strongly Agree) to the statement: “I have received professional learning or training that has helped me feel more confident to respond to students who are experiencing mental health problems”. The data shows how teachers, administrators, and support staff answered, in the whole state, district wide, and separated by school. The data can be further split by respondent’s race and ethnicity, or gender identity. One thing to note is that not every administrator, teacher, and support staff member answers this questionnaire, so this data only represents the feelings of those who responded to the survey.  

Teachers in Providence feel less confident in their ability to respond to students with mental health problems than teachers in Rhode Island overall. On average, support staff and administrators at all levels (elementary, middle, and high school) feel more confident than teachers in responding to students dealing with mental health issues.  

Mental health has surfaced as a big priority area for students and families. We are in a student mental health crisis, not just in our district, but in the country as a whole. With the impact of the pandemic, the turmoil youth have to deal within their communities and beyond, and the limited mental health resources students have access to (including counselors and other support staff), it is crucial for teachers, staff, and educators to be properly trained and feel confident in how they can support students when they are dealing with mental health issues.