Why Should Mental Health be Taught in School?
When you think about mental health, you might think about it in the context of a hospital or a counsellor’s office. Or, you may consider mental health talks are only for mad people. But today, all of that is different, especially in an everyday school environment.
Mental health is a problem that affects all of us, and it’s time we start talking about it in school and at home. The pressures to succeed are more than ever, which has led to an increase in the number of mental illnesses in children. Part of the reason for this is because people are unaware of how to diagnose symptoms or understand their emotions.
Since 2009, the percentage of high school students who have persistently felt depressed or hopeless has increased by 40%. That’s sad. Isn’t it?
Inside this blog, we will talk about 5 reasons why mental health should be a part of our education system.
5 Reasons Why Mental Health Education Should Be Part of the School Curriculum
1. Empowers kids to understand symptoms and signs
How many of the kids around you understand mental health illness? We often forget that kids learn from the people and the environment around them. If we never talk openly about mental health illness, how will a kid know how hard it is to go through the situation?
As students move through pre-adolescence, they learn more about what emotional wellbeing is and what differentiates it from other mental health problems. It’s essential for them to be aware of the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety, both in themselves and in those around them.
And knowledge at school can help them identify when they or someone they know may be experiencing a mental health problem.
2. Decreases societal stigma associated with mental illness
I have been very close to a mental health disorder, and I know it requires courage to share with someone and listen to their opinion. I have heard my close ones saying- “ This is nothing; I have had worse than this.”, “Do you even have any reason to get anxious?”, “You have not even seen the world, and you are saying you are dealing with something mentally.”
When you say such things to someone dealing with irrational thoughts, they are already dead inside. I wish I had been told mental illness is normal and there are ways to deal with it inside of shutting down thoughts and feelings.
When students understand that mental illness is a real and common problem, they are more likely to be open and willing to seek help if needed.
3. Helps a child learn self-care and self-love
There is no denying that the early years of a child’s life are crucial for their development and future wellbeing. During these years, children must learn to care for themselves and develop a healthy sense of self-love.
How many of us really take time out to have a self-care routine? Honestly, I am at a stage where I am struggling to love myself, and one of the reasons behind this is I was never told that being yourself is the most beautiful thing in the world.
Once I grew up and went through feelings of disappointment and anxiousness, I realised I didn’t love myself enough. I wasted most of my time prioritising people and their validations more than me. This is something we all need to change, and by helping children grow from the inside, we create an atmosphere where they feel safe and loved and are encouraged to express themselves. They now know how to develop a healthy relationship with their inner child.
4. Prevents the rising rate of mental illness
Since the pandemic started, we have heard more and more about mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. A big reason why these problems exist is that parents try to keep their child’s mental illnesses a secret instead of getting them the help they need. Asking a child not to tell anyone about their diagnosis only worsens things.
For example, Sara suffers from depression, and her mother asks her not to share this with teachers or friends, or she cannot consult a counsellor. Expressing mental illness will make them feel embarrassed. This way, stigma is continued, and Sara will self-stigmatise herself one day.
Here I do not mean to let kids do whatever they want or consider their every feeling a mental illness. By improving their knowledge and comprehension of mental health, parents can assist in managing the early stages of mental illness, which eventually narrows the time between diagnosis and treatment.
5. Makes kids understand life is not always positive
Education makes kids understand life is not always positive. It is important to learn about the realities of life, including the fact that sometimes things will not go their way.
The type of education we provide only helps children excel professionally. But, what about mental wellbeing? How to handle and respect emotions when something goes out of our way?
We have to develop resilience and make them understand that setbacks are a normal part of life. We can help them be better prepared to face the challenges that life will inevitably throw their way.
Conclusion:
It’s alarming that every year, more and more young people are experiencing mental health issues, but sadly, it often feels like no one is paying attention. Mental health education is so important in making sure that people can get the support they need. By raising awareness of the value of mental health education, I hope that we can make a difference and help more people access the assistance they require.
Let me know in the comments section if you also think mental health awareness lectures should be provided in every school… And if you’ve any suggestions, feel free to share your valuable guidance.
