The school environment is an ideal place to begin the work of addressing mental health needs. Not only does the school offer a simple and cost-effective way of reaching youth, but it is also a convenient place where mental health can be linked with other aspects of health, such as physical health and nutrition, and with learning.

1. Understanding Mental Health in Schools

2. What is Mental Health?? Mental health refers to the maintenance of successful mental activity

3. What is Mental Health?? This includes maintaining productive daily activities and maintaining fulfilling relationships with others

4. What is Mental Health?? It also includes maintaining the abilities to adapt to change and to cope with stresses

5. Today we know that Mental Disorders are Brain Disorders

6. Therefore, Mental illness can occur when the brain (or part of the brain) is not working well or is working in the wrong way.

7. Many of the mental disorders begin at the exact time that youth are in or entering Jr. High, High School or University

8. What impact do you think this has on students?

10. So schools can be a great location for mental health promotion, early identification and intervention.

11. What is needed to create mental health integration in schools?? Surprisingly little

12. We need policies and plan that recognize integration of mental health into educational institutions What is needed to create mental health integration in schools??

13. We need to develop and implement mental health curriculums What is needed to create mental health integration in schools??

14. We need to train teachers to understand and recognize mental health problems in students What is needed to create mental health integration in schools??

15. We need to develop region-specific infrastructure and supports What is needed to create mental health integration in schools??

16. In addition, mental health needs of teachers may be similar to those faced by students

17. “ On-site” mental health models can also provide teacher support

18. After all, a more effective teacher, means more effective teaching, and more effective learners

19. Schools are also great locations for combating stigma associated with mental illness

20. Stigma is the polite word for discrimination It pervades our entire social structure Integrating mental health education in schools may help destigmatize mental illness

21. Our model to address mental health in schools

22. - Blue circles represent key groups/stakeholders - Yellow boxes represent mental health programs - Black arrows represent student flow

23. Education and Mental Health are part of the basic human rights of children and youth

24. And “Education for All” requires attention to mental health as a learning enabler