The Importance of Mental Health Awareness in

Schools

by Nancy Barile, Award-Winning Teacher, M.A.Ed.

That kid who looks depressed might have more challenges than you could guess.
Mental health awareness is an important issue for all educators, who are often the first
line of defense for their students. Education professionals have recognized the impact that
a student's mental health has on learning and achievement, and they realize that there's a
great deal that can be done to help students with mental health issues. As a high school
teacher with more than 23 years of experience, I welcome the fact that mental health
awareness is finally becoming an important part of a school's function and curriculum.
Seeing the Signs in My Student
A few years ago, a student in my senior class changed drastically in a short period of
time. I noticed that Melina no longer did her homework, and she didn't even try on her
essays. Previously meticulous in her appearance, Melina would come to school
disheveled, wearing the same clothes. When I tried to speak to her, she was
uncharacteristically distant and withdrawn. Because I had some training in mental health
awareness, I knew Melina was in some sort of trouble.
Luckily, my school had social workers on staff who could speak to Melina and assess her
issues. They discovered that Melina was depressed and suicidal, and she needed an
immediate psychiatric intervention. Melina was hospitalized for a period of time, but she
was able to return to my classroom a few months later. With the help of medication and
therapy, she managed to graduate with her class.
Understanding the Impact
The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that one in five people live with some
sort of mental disorder or disease. Despite the fact that the average age of early signs of
mental illness is 14, most individuals don't seek help until adulthood. Underlining the
seriousness is the fact that 60 percent of high school students with mental illness don't
graduate.

New York mental health experts recognized that earlier intervention could result in more
positive outcomes for these students. Beginning in July 2018, New York will be the first
state in the nation to require mental health education for all students. The overall mission
of New York's School Mental Health (SMH) program is to promote healthy social,
emotional, and behavioral development of students, and "break down barriers to learning
so the general well-being of students, families, and school staff can be enhanced in
collaboration with other comprehensive student support and services."
The SMH program supports the emotional health and academic growth of all students
with the following:
● Integrating comprehensive services and support throughout every grade level
● Assessing mental health needs through universal, selective, and targeted
interventions
● Providing access to behavioral and mental health services and programs
● Leveraging higher-level personnel, such as those working with the Department of
Education, for necessary support and services
● Building collaborative relationships between the school and students' families and
communities

Spreading Awareness Across the Nation

Until mental health education is a mandatory aspect of all schools, teachers and
administrators can work to promote awareness with their students. Key elements to shine
a light on include the concept of self-care and responsibility for one's own mental health
and wellness, with an emphasis on the fact that mental health is an integral part of health,
and the concept of recovery from mental illness.
Teachers and students should be provided with ways to recognize signs of developing
mental health problems, and there should be opportunities around the awareness and
management of mental health crises, including the risk of suicide or self-harm. Further,
instruction should address the relationship between mental health, substance abuse, and
other negative coping behaviors, as well as the negative impact of stigma and cultural
attitudes toward mental illness.

Because teens spend most of their day at school, it just makes sense to have mental health
awareness and education become part of the curriculum. When we empower students
with knowledge, and encourage dialogue, students will be able to get the help they need.