Just recently, New York and Virginia became the first two states to mandate that mental health become incorporated into school curriculums. New York passed a law for educators to teach material on mental health beginning from elementary school continuing on to high school. Virginia’s legislation intertwines mental health education with physical and health education for 9th and 10th graders. While these two states should certainly be commended for recognizing the importance of mental health care and for building a strong foundation to grow upon, the new curriculums don’t go nearly far enough to combat the seriousness of mental illness in America today.
Anyone who can remember D.A.R.E. classes or the anti-drinking and smoking lectures from high school health class can attest to the ineffectiveness of promoting healthy choices once stepping outside of the classroom. Although good-intentioned, the education and tools these classes afforded its students rarely translated into real-world situations. It’s wonderful that students will be getting exposure to the topic and recognizing the importance of mental health care, but schools should go beyond just education.
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