Mental Illness

[WDWEPCOT]

Couldn’t agree with you more and sadly it’s becoming the norm - ins rules everything

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I approach meds with caution. They have their place. But they are not the be all and end all solution. Rather they are an umbrella under which the addled mind can repair itself. There's no sense at just hurling Celexa or Cymbalta at depression - therapy and counselling are needed too. Again, I reiterate though - they DO have their place.

 

[DLgal]

I approach meds with caution. They have their place. But they are not the be all and end all solution. Rather they are an umbrella under which the addled mind can repair itself. There's no sense at just hurling Celexa or Cymbalta at depression - therapy and counselling are needed too. Again, I reiterate though - they DO have their place.

Meds should always be used in conjunction with therapy. Most psychiatrists worth their salt will basically require it.

 

[monsterkitty]

They still do the vision and hearing screenings in our school district.

And there is no medical testing for ADHD. If a teacher suspects a child has it, or any other issue that is affecting learning and behaviors in the classroom, they absolutely CAN suggest testing, done BY THE SCHOOL. My son has ADHD and it was his teacher in 4th grade that informed me that he was having a hard time focusing in class. At home, it wasn't as noticeable because the demands weren't there. He already had an IEP and a behavior plan in place, but he was having noticeable difficulty. I simply spoke to his pediatrician during a routine annual exam who pulled out a one page checklist, asked me questions and then based on the answers, diagnosed him with Inattentive ADHD and prescribed medication. Couldn't have been easier. He is 18 now and began seeing a psychiatrist at age 14 who made the same diagnosis in the same manner.

Schools absolutely do need to be willing to do educational psychological testing when it's warranted due to a child struggling in class, and it's a shame that so many districts are not forthcoming about their OBLIGATION to do so when a student is struggling in school. They have Psychologists on staff for a reason. The unfortunate part is that parents don't usually know their rights.

We do vision and hearing for all third and seventh graders, as well as new students and special needs students. Teachers can also request for the CO to have a student tested during the school's v&h window. We used to test every child every year but that was before it was cut from the budget.

Schools cannot diagnose ADHD because it is a health disorder. A licensed medical professional has to diagnose the ADHD.

What schools can do is complete the questionnaire sent to school by a health professional.

Schools do screen students who are showing signs of a variety of learning difficulties. The IDEA laws require testing students who are suspected of having a learning disability. A teacher can request the testing, but the better option is having the parents request the evaluation because it must be done within a certain amount of time if it's a parental request. If a teacher requests the evaluation, then it can take months so we would suggest to the parent that they request the evaluation.

What they can't do is any medical testing because they are not medical professionals.

School counselors regularly screen children who are having a mental crisis. They can alert the parents and if it's extreme, the school nurse can have the child put under an M1 hold until they can be evaluated by a medical professional. The problem is, not all schools have nurses. In our area, most districts have 1 nurse for several schools and they're contracted out by Children's Hospital.

Unfortunately, school counselors and psychologists are understaffed and overworked right now. Many schools have to share psychologists because there are not enough psychologists at this time or the funding is not there.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Meds should always be used in conjunction with therapy. Most psychiatrists worth their salt will basically require it.

Totally agree.

I have a complex state of mental illness - I'm not ashamed to say it. I find my meds indispensable. But equally, I value my sessions with my councillor and my therapist. They are simply another way of targeting the problems and complement each other.

 

[PollyannaMom]

The human species is always evolving. I firmly believe we are evolving in a way that makes these neurodivergencies more prominent. Maybe it's the environment, or maybe it's just a natural outcome of selection for useful traits.

I agree with this, and I also think many of these differences existed when I was a kid, but the pace of the world was just slower. - If you had mild issues caused by neurodivergencies, you had more time to rest between draining social interactions, more time to notice patterns and figure out how to do things in a way you could handle. Today's kids live in a busier, louder, more quickly-changing world. It's harder to constantly adjust.

 

[TLSnell1981]

School is (or should be) about math, science, history, English…

I have a very soft heart for mental illness, but a school subject??? No.

Parents (remember those ?), and get your kids the medical help they need.

Maybe not part of the curriculum but teachers should support the emotional well being of their students. They should have enough training to spot troubled children. There should be protocol to address these concerns. Yes academics are important but teachers spend the majority of the day with these kids. The focus should be on the total child IMO

 

[PollyannaMom]

Maybe not part of the curriculum but teachers should support the emotional well being of their students. They should have enough training to spot troubled children. There should be protocol to address these concerns. Yes academics are important but teachers spend the majority of the day with these kids. The focus should be on the total child IMO

I think they try, but it's easier in younger grades when you have one class. High school teachers have too many students at once for that level of responsibility to each one.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I think they try, but it's easier in younger grades when you have one class. High school teachers have too many students at once for that level of responsibility to each one.

The younger the better. Too many are hardened at a very early age.

 

[disykat]

Maybe not part of the curriculum but teachers should support the emotional well being of their students. They should have enough training to spot troubled children. There should be protocol to address these concerns. Yes academics are important but teachers spend the majority of the day with these kids. The focus should be on the total child IMO

I agree with this. I DO think it is part of the responsibility of teachers to create a classroom community that supports the emotional well-being of their students. In order to do that, every good teacher I know does spend classroom time "teaching" students how to treat each other, how to take care of themselves, etc. It's part of being human. It's sad that we have to teach the basics of "be kind, don't bully, your happiness matters and you need to speak up when you are in trouble," etc., but we do. In the elementary classroom this a BIG part of teaching. Secondary teachers watch out for and "teach" these things as well, just less overtly.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I made this thread because a person I know mistakenly thought that schizoid illnesses, including schizophrenia, included multiple personalities. He was dead wrong; that's a whole other diagnosis.

 

[nickjohn]

Whatever. Mental health affectes everything else in your life. You can't be successful as a student if you are struggling with your mental health, and a major component of mental health is your social network/environment, which for kids is primarily schools. If schools fail to provide adequate mental health supports, they are failing to prepare kids to be successful adults who can positively contribute to society. Isn't that the entire point of education?

Absolutely! You've made a valid and crucial point about the significant impact of mental health on all aspects of a student's life. Mental well-being is indeed interconnected with academic success, personal growth, and future contributions to society. Allow me to expand on this further.



Mental health influences various areas of a student's life, including their ability to concentrate, retain information, and engage in productive learning. When students are struggling with mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, or stress, their academic performance often suffers. It becomes challenging for them to focus, participate actively in class, complete assignments, and perform well in exams. Consequently, their overall educational experience is negatively affected.



Moreover, a significant component of mental health is the social network and environment in which students find themselves, and schools play a vital role in shaping this environment. For children and adolescents, schools are not only places of education but also spaces for social interaction, peer relationships, and emotional development. A supportive and inclusive school environment fosters positive mental health by providing a sense of belonging, emotional safety, and healthy relationships.



By recognizing the importance of mental health support in schools, we acknowledge the responsibility of educational institutions to prepare students for successful adulthood. Education is not just about acquiring knowledge; it also involves equipping students with the skills, resilience, and emotional well-being necessary to navigate life's challenges. By providing adequate mental health supports, schools empower students to develop coping strategies, build resilience, and seek help when needed.



Furthermore, prioritizing mental health in schools aligns with the broader goal of education: to prepare students to become positive contributors to society. When students receive appropriate mental health support, they are better equipped to handle stress, manage their emotions, and cultivate healthy relationships. This, in turn, prepares them to navigate future academic, personal, and professional challenges successfully, ultimately leading to their positive and meaningful contributions to society.

i'm with the crowd who thinks school is for academics. health care belongs in the realm of healthcare providers. "the school" is not the solution to societal ills. Unfortunately, I think the public school system takes on way too much regarding social concerns. it takes the emphasis off of the first objective of educating the student.

 

[RamblingMad]

There will always be mental illness. And the diagnostic criteria will continue to evolve. It’s not realistic to expect everyone to be armchair shrinks.

 

[DLgal]

There will always be mental illness. And the diagnostic criteria will continue to evolve. It’s not realistic to expect everyone to be armchair shrinks.

You are aware that school districts have been employing psychologists to work in achoolsfor decades, right? Like, literal ones, with degrees and training and everything.

 

[RamblingMad]

You are aware that school districts have been employing psychologists to work in achoolsfor decades, right? Like, literal ones, with degrees and training and everything.

My high school didn’t. I’m sure some do with much bigger budgets. But problems will still slip through the cracks.

If this really worked, we wouldn’t have all of the problems we have today.

 

[DLgal]

My high school didn’t. I’m sure some do with much bigger budgets. But problems will still slip through the cracks.

If this really worked, we wouldn’t have all of the problems we have today.

No, they weren't there when WE were in high school. But it's been a thing for at least 20 years. They handle the behavioral and educational testing/evaluation for students suspected of needing special education services. They are in place at all levels of school, beginning at age 3 when school districts take over from states for therapy services.

 

[Kimkimba]

From a personal viewpoint, there is just not enough mental health help out there. Depending on your insurance and situation, it can take many many months to get help. And i live in a well off highly populated county in Pennsylvania. There is a lot of help for drug addicts though.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

All I know is that had we seen the signs of depression sooner, one of my dearest friends might have received the treatment he needed in time to stop him from killing himself... or my cousin from doing the same thanks to a bout with bipolar disorder