Education That Matters

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Teach the children, and give them hope.

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Comprehensive Mental Health Education should include all pieces of the mental health puzzle:

  • Mental health disorders are biological in nature, and include genetic factors which are compounded by environmental factors.
  • Mental health disorders are no the same as mental health.
  • 20% of children live with mental health disorders. (They are not alone, but many do not know.)
  • Many times, there are no outward signs of a mental health disorder.
  • Many students suffer in silence due to shame from a lack of knowledge concerning the biological roots of mental disorders.
  • Learn what we know about the causes of specific mental health disorders.
  • Early diagnosis is key to treating mental health disorders.
  • Nobody is to blame for mental health disorders.
  • Help is available, but only if you reach out.
  • Treatment plans may involve medications and/or therapy to help manage symptoms.
  • We are currently searching for cures for mental disorders.

What our Current Programs include:

  • Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs. These programs are important because they teach about the environmental and situational factors effecting all of our mental health. We all have mental health, and SEL programs provide valuable lessons for us in dealing with our day to day emotions.  
  • Trauma Informed Practices. These programs start with an understanding of how trauma can impact learning and behavior.  Adverse Childhood Events (ACE’s) questionnaires are often times utilized in measuring trauma effects.
  • Discussion parts of the brain as they relate to stress.

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Discussion …

We all have mental health. However, we do not all have mental health disorders. Distinction : Mental health disorders are multi-factorial, and alone, Social Emotional Learning programs and Trauma Informed Practices paint only a portion of the total mental health picture. They only touch on the surface of the biology of the brain, and they don’t educate teachers or students on the underlying genetic factors playing a key role in predisposing the 20% of our children who have, and those who will have, mental health disorders. 

One in five of our children lives, day in and day out, with a mental health condition. Many have no idea what is going on, or why.  Not knowing why they feel the way they do or how to handle these unexplained feelings can make their lives seem impossible for their age. As a result, they may suffer in silence; never reaching out for help. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for children and adolescents. Yet our teachers and children are kept in the dark, and as a result, we continue the cycle of suffering in silence.

The knowledge that these disorders are real, and have a medical name, alone, is such a relief! This understanding gives children the courage to finally reach out for help because they will know they are not alone.

“Following Daniel’s Lead” is our educational initiative, and we have researched several promising programs for both students and their teachers. (Please visit our list of “Comprehensive Educational Programs” below).

If you have any questions on how to approach your home state legislators or your school district, please send us a message under our “Contact Us” page. Also, if you have information on a promising program, please send us a message to this same page. We are always looking for new ideas! And we always strive to work together!

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Comprehensive Educational Programs:

Mental Health Literacy – https://mentalhealthliteracy.org/

  • The Mental Health & High School Curriculum Guide (the Guide) is the first and only evidence-based Canadian mental health literacy curriculum resource designed for use in schools (grades 7-10)
  • Elementary – MHL professionals are currently collaborating with key experts in the field to develop and the Elementary Mental Health Literacy Resource. (EMHLR)
  • Grade 12 – Know Before You Go – resource that is intended for Grade 12 students, and the educators who support them, as they transition from high school to post-secondary studies and/or employment. 
  • free of charge
  • online
  • downloadable worksheets

NAMI Wisconsin – https://namiwisconsin.org/lets-talk-about-mental-illness/

  • Let’s Talk About Mental Illness – video
  • Let’s Talk About Mental Illness – downloadable worksheets
  • free of charge

NAMI Basics OnDemand – https://www.nami.org/Videos/NAMI-Basics-OnDemand

  • online, self-paced course for adults
  • free of charge

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