Two States Are Making Teachers Talk about Mental Health. Could This Be a Model?
July 27, 2018
New York and Virginia are the first states to require mental health education in public schools. Effective July 1, New York public schools must incorporate mental health into their curricula for kindergarten through grade 12. Under a new Virginia law, the state board of education is required to review and update existing mental health education standards for grades 9 and 10. The New York legislation is the first of its kind in the state, and aims to improve students’ mental health, support those at risk for suicide, and promote a healthy school culture. “This is making mental health not a thing that exists outside the school,” said David E. Kirkland, executive director of New York University’s Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools. “We’re thinking about mental health how we think about English, math, or science.”
Spark Extra! Learn more about suicide prevention in schools.