Mental Health Awareness month occurs each year in May in the USA. The goal of this special month is to raise awareness about the many medical and social issues involving mental health disorders. Most importantly, there is recognition of the need to battle the stigma that has until now pushed dealing with mental health issues into the ‘unwanted’ basket. The awareness can help society provide support, educate members of the broader public and push for more policies that support people with mental illness as well as their families.
Many of the major organizations in the USA support Mental Health Awareness month with programs, promotions and fund-raising. You can find plenty of material about the month on the National Alliance on Mental Health, American Hospital Association, youth.GOV, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, US Department of Health & Human Services and Anxiety and Depression Association of America websites.
Mental health awareness is an important issue in the school system. Teachers can be a first line of defense for their students as long as they are aware of the impact that a student’s mental health can have on learning and achievement. There is still a great deal that needs to be done to help students with mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Mental Health Awareness month can play an important role in improving how the school system and teachers can tackle the problem together. Teachers should be provided with the knowledge that lets them recognize signs of mental health problems before they cross the line into a full-blown crisis. This should include recognizing the possibility of self-harm, development of drug dependencies and other negative behavior patterns.
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