Mental Health In Our Schools - Helping Our Future Generation
When you think about your own childhood, I am sure many things stand out to you, but is mental health conversations one of them? Probably not! We have lived in a world with many silences, and mental health Is one of them.
Unfortunately, many children and young adults have fallen through the cracks because of this “lack of awareness”. Over the years, as children have grown into adulthood, we are just hearing now, at this time in their lives, that they struggled tremendously growing up. They felt that there was nowhere to turn with their anxiety, anger, confusion, depression and trauma. The silence…
The broken and struggling adults are now finally raising their voices because our society is slowly making that turn towards embracing these unfortunate and real facts! Far too many have suffered silently and for some, they have not made it to adulthood.
It is time to change all of that! We need to look at what our future generation needs to survive, thrive and lead happier, healthier lifestyles.
LETS TALK ABOUT IT: Mental Health
What about this title as a program in the school systems across the country. Teaching children from a young age about being “mentally” healthy. Teaching children how to use their voice in a positive way and learning how to express themselves. We can incorporate programming into our health classes.
Far too many children are coming to school traumatized or damaged by the environment they live in. As they make their way through the doors, they are expected to be obedient little soldiers ready to learn, behave appropriately and excel on all levels.
How does a child or young adult with “clouded vision” and “developmental disabilities” supposed to conform to the daily grind of school life, when they are so lost, damaged and silent?
How are our educators supposed to teach effectively when their students are lost in that silence?
It is a very difficult task all the way around, so why not help? Why not step up with programming to support students, as well as, teachers in the classrooms?
Can you imagine how many new jobs can be created around the country if we could implement this new programming into our schools?
It is a “win win” situation!
Raising our next generation to become strong, healthy minded individuals and teaching them about peer acceptance, empathy and community support.
There are so many ways we can go with this, but we need more people to raise their own voices!! Say it LOUD. Bring these ideas to the table.
It has to start somewhere…
As I do more research, I am seeing baby steps forward connecting to this concept, but there needs to be more. Our children desperately need us to do something!
Where do we begin in undertaking such an enormous task?
We step up! We ask the questions! We connect with our school boards and local communities!
I plan on doing just that! I will continue to do my research, and then branch out into my local community to see where we can implement new programming. It has to start somewhere, let it start with YOU.
Embrace The Journey,
God Bless, Lisa Zarcone
Author – Child & Mental Health Advocate – Public Speaker – Blogger - Inspirationalist
HOPE SQUAD - SCHOOL BASE PEER TO PEER SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM -- www.HopeSquad.com
Mental Health In Schools Where We Stand
NAMI believes that public and private elementary, middle and high schools should provide and/or facilitate the provision of appropriate mental health services to our nation’s children.
Why We Care
One in five youth have a mental health condition, with half of mental health conditions developing by age 14. Yet, less than half of youth with mental health conditions received any kind of treatment in the past year. Undiagnosed, untreated, and inadequately treated mental illnesses significantly interfere with a student’s ability to learn, to grow, and to develop. Since children spend much of their productive time in educational settings, schools provide a unique opportunity to identify and treat mental health conditions by serving students where they already are.
How We Talk About It
Many mental health conditions first appear in youth and young adults, with 50% of all conditions developing by age 14 and 75% by age 24.
1 in 5 youth have a mental health condition, but sadly fewer than half receive any mental health services.
The earlier a young person can access mental health care, the more effective it can be. Early treatment can help keep youth in school and on track to achieving their life goals.
But, far too often, there are long delays between when a young person first experiences symptoms and when they get help.
Fortunately, our schools can play an important role in identifying the early warning signs of an emerging mental health condition and in linking students with effective services and supports.
NAMI supports funding to allow schools to train faculty and staff on the early warning signs of mental health conditions and how to link students to services.
And, NAMI believes that every school should also be able to provide school-based and/or school-linked mental health services. School-based mental health services bring trained community mental health professionals into schools, where school-linked mental health services link families to resources in the community.
Schools should also have the funding necessary to coordinate school-based mental health services with the community mental health system so children and young adults do not fall through the cracks.
www.nami.org - 1-800-950-NAMI
BNH – Behavioral Health Network – “trauma response team”
Bhninc.org
Many local mental health programs around the country have programs that can be brought into the school, as a one-time program. It can be a start to introduce the subject.
MHA – Mental Health Association
MHA is a nonprofit provider of residential and support services based in Springfield, MA. We provide services throughout the Greater Springfield area to people impacted by mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse and homelessness. Our agency’s core values are Respect, Integrity and Compassion.
MHA has 325 full and part-time employees and serves more than 350 participants annually. We operate 21 residential sites as well as extensive outreach and supported living programs. We receive state and federal funding from multiple sources including the MA Department of Mental Health (DMH), MA Department of Developmental Services (DDS), MA Department of Children and Families (DCF), Mass. Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), the MA Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
mhainc.org
Unify Against Bullying
unifyagainstbullying.org
