First Mental Health Learning Series Webinar Offers Information and Advice

The Department of Education (ED) began a three-part series about mental health on October 4th with a webinar entitled Evidence in Action: How States Can Promote Mental Health. The webinar reviewed the state of youth mental health and offered suggestions for action. The National Alliance on Mental Health Illness (NAMI) presented survey data that show 64% of youth feel the world is more stressful now than when their parents were their age; of those who sought information, 95% trust their parents and 78% trust their friends; and teens want schools to play a big role in their mental health, with 80% responding they  trust the school’s information. Renee Bradley of ED’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education led the team that developed documents to support student and child social, emotional, behavioral and mental health needs. She recommended the following actions: prioritize wellness for students educators, and providers; enhance mental health literacy and reduce stigma and other barriers to access; implement a continuum of evidence-based prevention practices; establish an integrated framework of educational, social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health supports for all; leverage policy and funding; enhance workforce capacity; and use data for decision making to promote equitable implementation and outcomes. The next webinar in the series, entitled The Importance of Trauma Informed Pedagogy and Student Identity in Mental Health, will be held on October 11th.

To register, click here.