As mental health difficulties in teens continue to rise, we are seeing increasing numbers of disturbances in school, untreated depressive episodes, and rates of suicide. In 2017, Michigan was ranked #22 in youth experiencing a major depressive episode (exceeding 10.5%), and ranked #19 in youth with a mental health disorder who did not receive treatment (61.3%).
Michigan State Board of Education provides a "Integrating Mental Health in Schools Toolkit" online for administrators and educators, however, this website only includes links to other resources for teachers when addressing mental health barriers in the classroom.
(To read this policy in detail, please use the following link: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-74638_53593---,00.html ).
TeenMentalHealth.Org offers a free, evidence based curriculum for high school students that has shown to improve mental health literacy in both educators and students. This curriculum offers lesson plans, activities, and other material covering the following modules:
1) Understanding how to optimize and maintain good mental health
2) Understanding mental disorders and their treatments
3) Decreasing Stigma
4) Enhancing help-seeking efficacy (knowing when and where to get help and
having the skills necessary to promote self-care and how to obtain good care)
We are asking for your support to show the desire/need to implement this curriculum in Michigan High School's. Mental illness, self-harm, and suicide are difficult issues that youth often face on their own. It is our duty to ensure the safety and well being of our youth to prepare them for a bright future.
Thank you for the time and we appreciate your continued support.
*Statistics from Mental Health in America Data (2017).
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/2017-state-mental-health-america-youth-data
