students or they mistake the classic signs thinking they are behavioral issues. This is why it is important to train them on how to spot a mental health disorder and what their proper roles are in that situation (Jessica). Once a teacher notices key signs of mental health disorders there are various things they can do. First they should speak to the student and other adults who the student is close with. Then they have the ability to allow more flexible deadlines if the student is falling behind in class. Yet they should encourage them to do the school work and not let it go undone. This is possible by commonly meeting with the student one on one to discuss the school work and what can be done to complete it. By allowing flexible deadlines, but still holding the student accountable, it allows the student to feel slightly more in control and less like they are drowning in schoolwork (Bruce).
Another option for schools is to include mental health topics more into the curriculum or even have a class dedicated to it. This “helps increase understanding and reduce stigma” (Damien). MindMatters is a program that works to help mental health in Australia. This program connects the school, home and community together to work on bettering mental health. They believe that having proper curriculum that teaches student about mental health will help them spot it in themselves and their peers. Also, by involving this in the school it opens the gates for conversation on the topic which will work to break down the stigma. This program works to train teachers to be able to spot mental health issues in their students (Johanna).
New York has become the first state that will require schools to require students to learn about mental health in school. The classes are going to teach students how to recognize the signs of mental health disorders and be able to tell if they have it, or if any of their family members or friends do. Along with this, the students will learn about how to get help. But not only are teachers and staff at schools teaching the students they are working to normalize the topic of mental health that way it is easier to talk about, and making it easier for people to seek help. New York will be making mental health a normal part of the curriculum for elementary, middle and high schools (Kenza). This begins in the 2018-2019 school years. The curriculum also involves managing mental health crisis situations so if a student is in a situation with a peer they will be able to act effectively to try and help the person as much as possible. The CDC found that approximately 18 percent of high school students admitted to seriously considering killing themselves in the last 12 months. They also found that about “50 percent of students with emotional and behavioral disorders drop out of school” (Derek). The CDC also found that 1 in every 12 high school students has attempted suicide. (Derek). This is the reasoning behind New York’s decisions to make education on mental health so important.