School Leadership and Mental Health

Strategies superintendents can use to safeguard their own mental health and promote mental health for students and staff.

Addressing mental health issues in school districts is a key challenge for district leaders. Mental health has been a longstanding concern for students, staff, and leaders themselves, and these challenges have only increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, a 2021 survey of district and charter network superintendents identifies student, teacher, and principal mental health as the three most common concerns of district leaders.

To support AASA members in addressing mental health challenges, Hanover Research has prepared the following report examining strategies district superintendents and other leaders can use to safeguard their own mental health and support mental health for all constituents in their districts. This report draws on the available secondary literature examining mental health in school settings, as well as research across sectors examining mental health for organizational leaders that may be relevant to district superintendents. This report includes the following sections:

• Section I reviews strategies superintendents can use to safeguard their own mental health, including strategies to promote self-awareness of mental health needs and strategies to build resilience for coping with stress related to leadership roles.
• Section II discusses strategies superintendents can use to promote mental health for students and staff, including personal leadership to support mental health for direct reports and policy supports that can enhance school climate and access to mental health care.