It was never taught in schools 15 years ago. Never talked about in health, gym, science; it was almost like adults did not want their children knowing what the world was really like. To talk about it was a form of weakness, like something was "wrong" with you. You had to deal with it and just toughen up. Adults felt it, children felt it, so why are we just starting to talk about it now?
Mental health is defined as a condition that affect humans emotional or psychological state. Like people, it comes in many different forms. Could be invisible like anxiety or depression or have a visible effect like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Everyone who suffers from a mental health disorder, suffers differently. Some embrace who they are and are open about it, while others have trained themselves to hide it from the world.
Today there is an emphasis around mental health, especially in children. As educators it is our job to help promote their voice and encourage them that it is okay to talk. Having this talk in our classrooms allows for children to ask questions about what they may be feeling. These conversations should be included in everyday lessons, as well as making it a core staple in our health curriculum. On top of educating our students we should also be educating ourselves on what to look out for in our classroom. Teaching about mental health does not have to be a scary topic, by making it interactive and informative to our students we are able to connect with them in ways we may never know.
Olivia.T @ NU
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