Vlog 82: SEL and Mental Health: Connected, Not the Same

In this episode, I share two key takeaways that have come up over the past couple of weeks—from the summit, a school visit in North Carolina, and project design work. 1. SEL and mental health are not the same. They’re often used interchangeably, but they serve different roles. Social and emotional learning focuses on the proactive development of skills that support overall well-being, including mental health. CASEL offers strong guidance on this distinction. 2. This work has to be modeled to stick. There’s no shortcut or quick fix to scaling social and emotional skills. It requires leaders and adults to do the work themselves and consistently model it in how they show up. That’s what allows it to become embedded in everyday practice. This is why I continue to ground my work in frameworks like RULER and the research from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence—they start with adult development and show the impact that approach can have. As always, I invite you to comment, ask questions, and share your thoughts as we continue telling the Come Home story and advancing this work together. Questions? Ask here: https://answersfrom.me/griffin