Educators play a vital role in supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of students. With such a large responsibility, it’s important that teachers are armed with the right tools and resources to create a school environment that fosters a healthy mindset.

That’s why Crisis Text Line has developed our annual Classroom Empathy toolkits – a set of clinical-backed resources for Elementary School, Middle School, and High School teachers that foster empathy, resilience, and mental well-being for students. Through teaching mental health in schools and incorporating it into curriculums, educators can help ensure the overall success of students– in the classroom and beyond.  

The Need to Elevate Mental Health Awareness in Schools

In 2024, Crisis Text Line saw a record number of texters reaching out about school-related stress. Nearly 1 in 4 conversations mentioned school anxiety– ranging from challenges with relationships and loneliness, lack of motivation, feeling overwhelmed and, in some cases, school refusal. To truly support student mental health, it’s important for schools to prioritize teacher training and equip students with effective coping strategies– and Crisis Text Line is here to help!

Just in time for Mental Health Awareness Month, we have brought back three new actionable toolkits for teachers that are designed to encourage an open dialogue and create a safe space for students to explore, acknowledge, and address their own mental well-being. Each toolkit– Elementary, Middle School, and High School– provides age-appropriate activities, conversation guides, and hands-on resources to address the various issues students face that may impact their mental health including bullying, loneliness, and anxiety.

By introducing the toolkit’s activities into the classroom, conversations may spark that can ultimately teach teachers about mental health from the perspective of the students, and the level of education and support required. Together, we can break the stigma that often surrounds mental health and bring its awareness to the forefront at schools.

Students who are in need of immediate mental health support– as well as school staff members including teachers, school counselors, and school psychologists– can text SCHOOL to 741741 to connect with a live volunteer Crisis Counselor. Free, confidential support, 24/7.

How Crisis Text Line Can Support Your Classroom

Having supported millions through text-based mental health conversations, we know how transformative it can be when schools prioritize mental health—and how vital educators are in fostering a nurturing environment for their students. Download your toolkit below and see how classroom empathy can be incorporated into lesson plans.

Free, printable classroom activities that promote mental health.

Elementary School – Student Mental Health Toolkit
Fun and engaging activities, including coloring sheets and affirmation stars, to help young students develop solid habits in emotional resilience, self-care, and mental well-being.

Middle School – Student Mental Health Toolkit
Conversation starters and activities, including digital reset challenge and confidence-boost bingo, to strengthen students’ self-care habits and create a supportive space to talk about mental health.

High School – Student Mental Health Toolkit
Activities and discussion guides, including brain & body breaks and coping techniques breakdown, to help students continue to build emotional resilience and navigate mental well-being inside and outside the classroom.

Help for Teachers Navigating Burnout

Supporting the mental health of our educators is as equally important as supporting students. Given the emotional, mental, and physical demands of being a teacher, stress and burnout is not uncommon. Crisis Text Line is here as a resource to support the teacher community. If you need to vent, process emotions, or are experiencing a mental crisis, text SCHOOL to 741741 to reach a live volunteer Crisis Counselor. Free, confidential, 24/7. We are here for you!

In addition to our Classroom Empathy toolkits, we have other resources available to support teachers including free printable mental health activities for kids and information on promoting mental health in schools.

Download Your Free Toolkits

Download and explore the toolkits today to see how you can integrate these ready-to-use activities into your lesson plans and bring more empathy into the classroom. Together, we can foster learning environments where every student feels supported, valued, and understood.

If you or your students need immediate mental health support, text SCHOOL to 741741. Crisis Text Line is here to help– free, confidential, 24/7.