Mental health is important and plays a role in our daily lives. It refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts.
Mental health problems can develop in children and youth at any age. Studies show that 20 percent of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade suffer from a mental health issue on any given day in any given classroom; and 10 percent of these issues are serious enough to affect how that student behaves at home, at school, and with others.
Some mental health issues are mild, barely noticeable, and may last a short time, while others are more severe and can last a lifetime. Despite the high rates of mental illness among children and youth, 80 percent of school-aged youth with mental health issues do not receive any services. Untreated mental health issues can lead to poor grades, truancy, dropping out of school, behavior problems, substance abuse, school violence, and suicide. Research shows that early discovery and successful treatment of a mental health issue can reduce the long-term effect on a student’s life.
Webinar participants will learn the symptoms of the most common mental illnesses among children and youth as well as strategies to use in the classroom and on a schoolwide level.
Monica Nepomuceno, MSW, Education Programs Consultant, Mental Health Services Program, California Department of Education will be presenting this webinar.