# data[].attributes.body
In the help for helpers' article, it stated having a staff share agreements which stood out to me the most; having an encouraging workplace can help alleviate stress levels. No one should ever feel alone, especially in a workplace where everyone is out to help other individuals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Stress is nothing new to . But as they continue to shoulder the tremendous responsibility of helping young people heal from the momentous events of the past year and ongoing traumas, education leaders need to renew a focus on school counselors' well-being. Although nearly all educators are experiencing heightened stress and anxiety, school counselors are often the first ones called in to help address crises and traumatic experiences. As we look to support the mental health of educators, we must also remember the school "helpers" who are often asked to place the needs of students, families, and colleagues before their own.

Below, we offer four strategies to promote school counselors' well-being and mental health.

We know that self-care is important for school counselors, but it's hard to prioritize if it's not reflected in the work climate and culture. Self-care should become part of the school culture rather than a responsibility for individual staff members to seek out on their own. Relationships are the foundation for supportive conditions that prioritize staff wellness and are built through connecting and listening to one another.

A good way to start establishing these conditions is by developing Staff Shared Agreements to talk about how staff and , as well as how to set realistic boundaries around work. For example, these agreements can help staff find ways to support and connect with one another virtually or in-person, define how they will model SEL when they communicate with students and families, create expectations around email and response times, or set up routines for reflecting on their own well-being.

2. Check in on school counselors and normalize asking for support.

School counselors will have varied experiences and stressors during this time, and some may have additional mental health needs related to depression, anxiety, grief, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Ensure school counselors are aware of-and know how to access-employee assistance programs and wellness benefits that may provide access to community mental health providers and resources. Also, creating a confidential referral process, such as a dedicated phone line that protects the privacy of employees, is important for staff who are at higher risk for significant or . This may mean ensuring access to community mental health providers who can offer extra resources.

3. Use this extraordinary time to innovate and tap into school counselors' "why".

Reconnecting with what drives us to this work is an important way to motivate and ground ourselves, especially when experiencing stress and burnout. Although the past months have often been overwhelming, this difficult time has also offered opportunities to innovate and to reconnect with why the work that school counselors do is so important.

Give school counselors opportunities and space to reflect on and share what they've learned from their unique experiences. What new strategies have they found to confront inequities and build meaningful relationships with students and families? How might these insights improve communities and structures moving forward? How can school counselors and educators work together toward creating a school culture free from racism and bias ?

4. Develop a professional learning plan with school counselors focused on adult SEL.

A good starting point is self-reflection. When staff reflect on their own lifelong process for developing social and emotional competencies, they gain insight into their own strengths and areas for improvement.

One strategy to consider is to support school counselors in taking a self-care inventory and noting coping mechanisms they use in stressful times. Recording reflections in a self-care journal can allow for a healthy space to explore feelings, seek out positive strategies, and fine tune the areas for improvement.

As schools respond to the urgent mental health needs of all educators, we must also remember the needs of our school counselors. We hope these strategies continue to build on a culture of support and healing for every member of the school community.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Who Helps the Helpers? SEL for School Counselors' Mental Health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Stress is nothing new to school counselors. But as they continue to shoulder the tremendous responsibility of helping young people heal from the momentous events of the past year and ongoing traumas,

# data[].attributes.body
Being healthy is not only the outside representation of yourself. Helping others starts with helping yourself; self-care is as essential as a person's mental state. An individual's thoughts begin with loving yourself first.

# data[].attributes.body
The two main self-care strategies that have helped me with my self-care routine would be writing down daily affirmations and waking up early to stretch or walk three miles every other morning. Waking up early gives me time away from the many hats I wear: mom, career, student, etc. Affirmations remind me that I am enough, and I am proud of myself.