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Florida will soon require public schools to implementmental-healtheducation, making it the third state to do so after New York and Virginia passed similar laws last year.
The state’sBoard of Educationvoted on Wednesday to provide all students in grades 6 through 12 with at least five hours of mental-health instruction annually, Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoransaid in a press release.
“This is just the beginning. It’s no secret thatmental illnessrobs students of the ability to reach their full potential, and we are joining forces to combat this disease and give our students the tools they need to thrive,” he said.
He also credited Florida’s First Lady Casey DeSantis with taking initiative in helping to get the measure passed, after she launchedHope for Healing Floridain May, a multi-agency mental-health and substance-abuse campaign.
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The required education must include instruction on how to recognize signs and symptoms, how kids can get or seek help for themselves or others, an awareness of resources such as theNational Suicide Prevention hotlineand advice on how to help peers struggling with mental health disorders.
It remains unclear whether outside educators will be brought in to teach the students, or if teachers will instead be trained on the lessons.
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CNNreports that the funding for the program will come from $75 millionGovernor Ron DeSantisallocated to theMental Health Assistance Allocation for Floridaschools in his 2020 budget.
An estimated 49.5% of adolescents ages 13 to 18 have a mental disorder, according to theNational Institute of Mental Health.
The institute reports that 31.9% suffer from ananxiety disorder, while 2.3 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 had at least one major depressive episode in 2017.
source: people.com
