New
legislation signed by Governor Cuomo in 2016 requires that public schools in
New York State begin providing instruction in mental health on or after July 1,
2018. The legislation was co-sponsored by Senator Carl Marcellino (R-Nassau)
and Assemblywoman Kathy Nolan (D-Queens).
The
new legislation adds mental health education to areas of learning that were
already required by law, including education on the use and misuse of alcohol,
tobacco and other substances and the early detection of cancer.
According
to Glen Liebman, CEO of the Mental Health Association in New York State, “By
ensuring that young people are educated about mental health, we increase the
likelihood that they will be able to recognize signs in themselves and others
that indicate when help is needed and how to get help.”
Why
is this legislation so important? One in five adolescents ages 13-18 is
diagnosed with a mental health problem, yet only 40% get help. The average time
from onset to seeking help is eight to 10 years. According to Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, one in 12 high school students attempt suicide, the third leading
cause of death for 10 to 24 year olds.
Teaching
about mental health in schools and educating to reduce stigma is long overdue.
There is great misunderstanding and fear among many who have erroneous ideas
about people with mental illness. Consequently, young people suffering with
mental illness walk around school feeling isolated, believing that there’s
something inherently wrong with them that will never change.
These
children and teens often feel shunned, unlike their peers who have a physical
health problem and who have others rally around them. I can vividly recall a
news report and photo of a middle school boy afflicted with cancer who was receiving
chemotherapy. In the photo he was surrounded by his teacher and a smiling group
of his classmates, all of whom shaved their heads in solidarity with him. Imagine if instead of cancer he was depressed
and suicidal. There would be no such image of public support, only one of
isolation, shame and despair.
A
caring school community can offer a young person a safety net of meaningful and
helpful connections. It is not unusual for a teenager to feel defective when
struggling alone with a mental illness. Mental health education in schools can
begin with mental wellness practices for children as early as four or five
years old, for example, by teaching social skills and how to manage angry
feelings.
As
children grow they can learn about the concept of wellness including self-care
and personal responsibility. They can learn to recognize the signs and symptoms
of developing mental health problems, how to manage crises such as the risk of
suicide and self-harm and how to identify appropriate services and supports for
treating and maintaining recovery from mental illness.
I
can already hear those voices that will decry using educational resources for
addressing the emotional needs of kids. If that is your view, I ask you to
consider that approximately 50% of
students age 14 and older who are living with a mental illness drop out of high
school. Youngsters’ mental health and their ability to learn and become
productive citizens in the community and workplace go hand-in-hand.
We owe it to our children to support this vital
new legislation by encouraging schools to incorporate meaningful education into
the curriculum that reinforces the idea that mental health is an integral part
of wellbeing. Our children need to learn that there is help that can lead to
recovery.
by Andrew Malekoff
Published in Long Island Weekly, September 2017
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