The end of a calendar year is the perfect time to look ahead and assess what’s coming next. As we prepare for 2025, we’re anticipating a heightened emphasis on student well-being and mental health along with continued exploration of technological advancements in the health office. This blog will explore a few student health trends we’re predicting for 2025 and how they will shape the future of K-12 student health.
1. Focus on Student Well-Being
According to Merriam-Webster, “well-being” is defined as the state of being happy, healthy, or prosperous. Schools have been using this term for years, often as a vague blanket term. Recently, educators have shifted their approach to well-being due to a renewed focus on mental health and its correlation to student motivation and behavior.
“Every school is looking at how they can support students in a more holistic way — and well-being is at the heart of that conversation,” says Ben Dunford, founder of behavior management and motivation platform ePraise. “Previously, you would often think about student motivation in terms of achievement and behavior management. However, schools are now looking at the bigger picture of student well-being. This is a positive shift, as it is clear that student well-being is a key factor in student success.”
As schools face rising mental health issues, chronic absenteeism, and record levels of student disruption, this emphasis on well-being will be instrumental in combatting these challenges and creating environments where every student thrives. In 2025, we’re anticipating that schools will start introducing well-being programs and tools like ePraise to help support and motivate their students.
Additionally, we expect to see more research from health organizations and leaders on this topic. The United Kingdom, United States, and Australia have already published some guidance and legislation with the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools Guide, and the National Student Wellbeing Program, respectively.
“Thankfully there is an ever-improving environment of support and resources available to schools,” says Dunford. “At ePraise we’re proud to be part of that support network and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with schools to tackle the issue of student well-being head on.”
2. More Mental Health Support
The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Children’s Hospital Association declared a national emergency in children’s mental health in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the mental health of K-12 students was already a growing concern before the pandemic, COVID-19 took a major toll on young children and adolescents, leading to an increase in mental health emergencies and suicide. Data from the CDC shows a 36 percent increase in suicides between 2020 and 2022. For children ages 10 – 14, suicide is now the second leading cause of death.
Even more, a report from the British Journal of Sports Medicine shows that suicide rates for student athletes have doubled within the last twenty years. Danielle Vallas from D&G Wellness Consulting dedicates her work to educating student athletes and their communities about the importance of mental health on and off the field.
“Athletes face additional stressors related to performance pressure, injury concerns, academic demands, and an identity that is wrapped up in their athletic success,” says Vallas. “Studies have shown elevated rates of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse among student athletes compared to their non-athlete peers.”
In the year ahead, we predict schools will continue to raise awareness for mental health and offer a range of resources and support for their communities at both the general and audience-specific level, like for student athletes. “It is increasingly evident that mental health education and prevention efforts are essential components of a holistic approach to athlete well-being,” says Vallas. “There is a huge need for early intervention and prevention programs uniquely designed for student athletes.”
3. Use of Artificial Intelligence
Since November 2022, artificial intelligence (AI) has been a constant conversation in schools at both the student and educator level. Compared to other departments, health offices have been rather hesitant to adopt AI due to data privacy concerns and lack of knowledge.
According to research from Veracross, 47% of school health professionals are using AI. Top use cases include creating health forms, educating students, building treatment note templates, creating treatment plans, and communicating with families. AI is already helping some school nurses save up to 40% of their manual workload.
In 2025, we think school nurses and health staff will start to explore AI more and take a data-driven approach to student health. As schools seek to care for students in a more holistic way, health staff will use AI for early identification, intervention, and reporting.
4. Impact of Social Media
Australia recently made headlines for banning children under the age of 16 from using social media. This bill, considered one of the strictest of its kind, was created in response to growing concerns over the impact of social media on children’s mental health. Australia is not alone; educators and leaders across the globe are voicing concern about children’s use of social media and screen time in general.
According to the National Education Association, educators worry that social media usage is leading to “cyberbullying and underdeveloped social skills,” among other concerns. Schools are seeing an increased number of students having trouble concentrating, acting out and disrupting class, and missing school days — likely in response to the negative impact of social media on their developing brains.
In 2025, we think schools will take a more proactive approach to educating families about the dangers of social media and restricting personal device use in schools.
Preparing for 2025
From mental health and well-being to the impact of social media, K-12 schools will continue to shift their approach to student care in the year ahead. As school health professionals focus on treating the whole person, they’ll benefit from using new technology like artificial intelligence to analyze trends and make data-driven decisions. We’re excited to see where 2025 leads and what student health will look like in the new year!
About ePraise
ePraise is a behavior management system designed for K-12 private and independent schools that allows school staff to track behavior, award points and rewards for positive behavior, collect student concerns, and communicate with families.
About D&G Wellness
D&G Wellness Consulting offers a variety of in-person and virtual programs designed as early intervention and prevention programs for high school and college athletes, coaches, and parents. They strive to arm school communities with the knowledge, power, and resources to support themselves in the classroom and on the field. Coming soon: A Pocket Guide for Supporting Athletes’ Mental Health.