Mental Health awareness has always been an important issue; however, we need to prioritize it in today’s day and age. With the fast-paced, stressful changes our world has seen in recent years, schools need to create or implement a mental health awareness program for students and teachers. In addition, teachers could truly benefit from being aware of their student’s mental health and knowing how to direct them to the help they may need.
Being aware of our students’ mental health could solve issues ranging from the smallest to the largest that additional professionals can assist with. As educators, we never know what a student is going through at home, and oftentimes, students feel it is their burden to deal with alone. It can be terribly frightening for the student, and it perhaps leads to failing grades, dropout rates increasing, and worse.
Knowing the signs of emotional stress and being aware can help teachers assist students with their needs, from the most simplistic issue to major stresses within their lives.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that one in five people live with mental disorders or diseases. Unfortunately, most students don’t get the help they need, and if not recognized, this can lead to greater issues. Mental health has been taboo throughout the years, and problems are not discussed, solved, or even recognized because it is too frightening. So knowing how we can recognize issues and open a discussion will help teachers feel more comfortable with the topic and create a more emotionally safe environment for students as a whole. If Educators help make Mental Health a prerogative in daily lives, it could help hundreds if not thousands of students succeed.
If Educators are trained on basic facts such as knowing where and who to refer students to and being aware of basic interventions, they can help create happier, more successful students. They can also work with the Department of Education for necessary support and service while building collaborative relationships between the school, students’ families, and communities.
It can benefit a student if they recognize they have an issue or to ask for help. They don’t have to know how to solve their issue but knowing where to go and who to talk to is imperative to their overall well-being. Mental health leads to overall physical health and current and future success. Knowing how to open a conversation regarding mental health, letting others know they are not alone, and finally being insightful to the abundance of help surrounding us is crucial. Let’s all help make Mental Health a priority, not only for our teachers but also for our students and families.