GINO PATRICK M. OBENARIO

Being the first line of defense for their children, educators should all take mental health awareness seriously. Education experts understand that there is much that can be done to support children with mental health concerns and that learning and accomplishment are directly impacted by a student's mental health. As a more than 23-year-old high school teacher, I applaud the realization that mental health education is now a significant component of the mission and curriculum of educational institutions.

While mental health education is not yet required in every school, educators and administrators might try raising awareness among their pupils. The idea of self-care, taking accountability for one's own mental health and wellness, stressing the connection between mental health and physical well-being, as well as the notion of recovery from mental illness, are important topics to bring to light. There should be opportunities surrounding the recognition and management of mental health crises, including the danger of suicide or self-harm, and teachers and students should be given tools to identify the early warning signs of mental health problems. The connection between substance misuse, mental illness, and other unhealthy coping mechanisms should also be covered in training, as well as the detrimental effects of stigma and societal perceptions of mental illness.

Teens spend the majority of their days in school, so it only makes logical to include instruction on mental health issues and awareness in the curriculum. Students will be able to acquire the assistance they require when we provide them with knowledge and promote conversation.

-oOoThe author of this article is Teacher II Camachiles National High School