Our students need help.
More than in reading, writing, and math.
More than in self-confidence and self-esteem building in most cases too.
It’s the serious help that many students need, yet few educators are trained to help a student with appropriately.
It’s the taboo notion of mental health/mental illness that often gets seen as “teenage behavior”, “moodiness” or “stress”. There are higher rates of students needing critical support in our schools than ever before. Our students are dealing with issues that typical 14 - 18 year olds shouldn’t have to deal with. We can’t expect them to cope with this illness along with dealing with school, relationships and jobs.
“One half of all mental illness begins by age 14 and 75% begins by age 24”
Schools aren’t equipped with staff to service students with the medical attention that they are in need of, and parents are often in denial. We need to build relationships with community agencies so they can provide staff training. We need to offer community outreach nights so our parents and communities can work together to see and understand the signs of mental illness. Together we can get students to doctors and specialists that can help them.
We need to break down the stereotypes and start learning. Start helping. Start supporting.
We need the tools, the words, and the advice to allow our students to feel safe.
Let's start today.
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/warning-signs-of-mental-illness
Education and knowing what resources are available is SO important. When we can learn to recognize the signs & know how to guide students and parents to professional support then we can make a positive impact in their lives.
ReplyDeleteJon