Psychosocial refers to a person’s psychological profile and includes their behavior and responses to stress and other situations. It also includes consideration for their surrounding social environment and its impact on their physical, psychological and mental wellness as well as their ability to function in a social setting – whether that is a work, in school or any other social situation.

More people are affected with psychosocial struggles than with serious mental illness.  In fact, all people will need to deal with and learn from various psychosocial skills at some point throughout their lives. With physical health, it is all very measurable. We can look at body temperature, vital signs, physical stuff. With mental health, things are more subjective and less physically measurable. Psychosocial is just one of many components clinicians look at when someone is dealing with social or behavioral difficulties. Having trouble with friends or in class can be a sign of clinical concern, like the possibility of depression, but it also might be a much simpler issue, solved with basic psychosocial skills training. A person exhibiting some of the signs of depression is not automatically diagnosed as clinically depressed. There are behaviors and strategies that we can all benefit from learning, to help us manage various triggers in our environment, like in a classroom or at home. Learning these important life skills can help us recognize and better deal with stressors and triggers,without the need for formal, clinical intervention.

Psychosocial skills are important for anyone that wants to have fulfilling relationships and to manage some of the basic things of value in life.  People with good psychosocial skills are better at making and keeping friends. These skills help you not just get a job, but keep a job. They are critical skills for managing all kind of relationships with other people – including teachers, colleagues, people in authority like a boss or mentor and eventually, with a life partner and children. Families and parents with good psychosocial skills are more likely to enjoy each others company, take good care of each other and have more productive, fulfilling lives.

The answer here is two-fold. First, of course it is important for parents to teach their children good psychosocial skills. Leaps supports and encourages parents to be as involved as they can be and we provide special at-home lesson materials for teachers to empower and engage parents. It is great when a teacher and parents are on the same page and can provide consistency for students. Second, at school, teachers are spending many hours a day in close interaction with students. Teachers are managing classroom behavior and working to equip their students for life after school. Leaps lessons help in that classroom, improving behavior, test scores, attendance and school culture. Teachers using Leaps get better results in class and their students take away lasting, impactful lessons for a better future.