SWAMPSCOTT — The district’s Director of Social and Emotional Learning Craig Harris led a presentation on the current state of SEL in Swampscott to the School Committee at a recent meeting.
Harris defined SEL by breaking it into five categories: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. He emphasized his belief that SEL should be a fundamental part of the school curriculum.
“It is inherent to what we do, and it is inherent to everything within a school,” Harris said. “The research really shows that it enhances our academics, it enhances our school climate, and it enhances our attendance.”
Harris brought up a study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that found it is financially responsible to invest in SEL resources compared to potential costs for those who are struggling with issues later in life that could have been prevented.
“If you prevent mental health issues, they help prevent substance use issues,” Harris said. “$1 of school-based prevention in substance use is equal to $18 later on in interventions.”
Thursday’s presentation included data gathered by screening more than 500 students each year since 2021 on the state of their mental health. The data demonstrated a yearly decline in categories such as students reporting suicidal ideation and students who had to be referred to a mobile crisis team. In that same timespan, severe anxiety has dropped from 6% in total students screened to 1%.
“This is a testament to the work that our councilors are doing, this is a testament to the character of our schools,” Harris said. “I think we’re finally starting to bounce back.”
In an effort to confirm the results were accurate, Harris’ department offered students an anonymous survey called “iDecide” from Massachusetts General Hospital.
“If students were being really protective of their information, we might see more students report on the MGH survey,” Harris said. “We find that they’re nearly identical.”
According to Harris, psychiatric hospitalizations in high school students dropped to five in the current school year, as opposed to the previous five-year average of nine.
Harris named the statistic suggesting that nearly 24% of students in the high school said they do not have a “trusted adult” in the district.
Harris said that another survey will be distributed to the student body after the April vacation.
Currently, the SEL is leading a district-wide threat assessment training program.
