CRITICAL MENTAL HEALTH AREAS TO FOCUS ON IN 2023. Part 3: Mental Health in The Classroom
Our last two posts covered the growing trend of mental health awareness and education in the workplace and at home. Both of which mainly focused on adults. If you haven’t had the chance, finish this post up and head to those two here and Here. But we cannot forget the impact mental health has on our kids. Yes, even young kids. That’s what I want to focus briefly on today.
I have worked with kids and teens for nearly twenty years. In those years, there has been one growing issue—the chaotic world we require them to grow up in and navigate. We ask them to study more and sleep less. We—adults—want them to have every advantage so get them involved in as many activities, clubs, sports, or enrichment groups as possible. Free time? There’s no time for that. Then we handed our kids a smartphone, either out of a belief they are ready for it, or because we gave in to peer pressure, or it simply became a necessity. And whether we realized it or not, we handed our kids a highly addictive gateway into a world they are not yet to be prepared for.
Ok, I know that sounds all terrible. When you take each piece on its own, it’s not all bad. In fact, it seems perfectly manageable. But, add them all up, and the overwhelming nature of it all becomes far too much to handle. Now we face a mental health crisis among our youth that we just didn’t see coming.
There is good news. Because there is a fast-growing trend around the country. Schools are families are taking notice of the mental health of the next generation through all kinds of methods, programs, and resources. In Indiana, it’s the Get Schooled Tour.
I don’t believe it’s fair to ask parents and teachers to try and change the game. Nor is it safe to keep our kids on the sidelines. Instead, it’s about preparation.
We prepare our kids for their financial future.
We prepare our kids for their professional future.
We even prepare our kids for their athletic or creative futures.
Why not prepare them for a strong mental health future?
What schools and families are learning is that a strong focus on the future of the next generation that doesn’t involve mental health is a complete waste of time. The pressures our kids are facing each day—even when they are young—require a keen understanding of emotions, addictions, self-care, sleep habits, eating habits, mindfulness, and always having that one or two trusted adults who can listen and get them help if necessary.
This is precisely why we believe the Get Schooled Tour events are rapidly growing in popularity and demand.
Meeting this demand head-on, we supply students with the tools and the knowledge to empower them to own their mental health. And for those already struggling, the help needed to find hope and healing.
The subject of mental health should be added as a regular part of the conversation when we talk about the academics of reading, writing, and arithmetic.
To find out more on how your school can partner with the Get Schooled Tour, visit: getschooledtour.com
