User:Snoops292/Mental health in education

MENTAL HEALTH US STATE POLICIES

Concerning U.S. state policies, only three states have approved mandatory mental health curriculums. In July 2018, New York and Virginia passed legislation that made mental health instruction mandatory in public education. This is correlated with the CDC reporting a 30% increase in US suicide numbers over the last 20 years. New York has made it mandatory for students from Kindergarten to 12th grade to undergo mental health instruction. After experiencing traumatizing suicidal behavior with his own son, the governor of Virginia thought it necessary to teach warning signs to 9th and 10th graders so they can look out for the safety of their peers and themselves. The board of education is in charge of deliberating details of the curriculum but the governor is hopeful that teachers will also receive training on warning signs. Even though investment in mental health has never been higher, the state legislature has yet to approve extra funding to implement the curriculum. In July 2019, Florida’s board of education made 5 hours of mental health education mandatory for grades 6 through 12, making it the third state to approve such instruction. There are no federal requirements in place, however, after COVID-19, a rise in mental health awareness and approval of policies is expected. This prediction is based on the increased isolation of the elderly, xenophobia against people of Asian descent, and resulting mental health effects of large-scale quarantine and business closures.