Nurturing mental, emotional resilience of students

AT Concordia International School Shanghai, we believe that balance is integral to academic and general life success.

From a mental wellness perspective, our school counselors and teachers work hard to build resilience in our students so they have confidence in their ability to adapt to changes, persevere in the face of challenges and learn new skills.

One of the most effective ways to help students manage academic stress is prevention, which is a proactive strategy rather than a reactive strategy.

Essentially, the goal is to help students develop sufficient underlying coping strategies and character strengths from a young age so they are able to manage inevitable life stress.

To achieve this, school counselors in each division provide lessons in socialemotional learning at each grade level, delivering a comprehensive, researchbased and preventative program.

Starting from preschool and continuing all the way to high school, we use social-emotional learning programs appropriate for students’ each developmental stage.

Skills in terms of executive functioning, planning and organizing, self-management, emotional regulation, problem-solving and socialing are taught, allowing students to successfully navigate their academic environment.

These soft skills are critical as they are easily transferred to other environments such as the work environment.

For students who require additional targeted support, school counselors work with students in a small group or on an individual basis.

Strategies from evidence-based psychological modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy are adopted to help students develop better coping skills.

The school counselor also collaborates with the learning support team and school psychologist to identify potential barriers to learning that may be causing unnecessary stress.

Moreover, the team partners with the student’s family to develop an individualized learning plan to mitigate barriers, support the student and support the student in self-advocacy.

Finally, school counselors work closely with parents to ensure that school support is aligned with support provided at home.

For example, counselors may work with parents to ensure the student is getting sufficient sleep, that they are balancing academics with exercise and social activities and that home is a calm, nurturing environment that addresses student stress and promotes resilience.