Why do we need to teach about mental
health schools?
The evidence is clear that with early treatment, most people
recover from a mental illness and are able to fully participate in
the social and economic life of the community. However, current
statistics suggest that only 22% of young people who are suffering
from mental ill-health seek professional help.
When young people do seek help, it is most typically from
informal, non-professional sources such as friends and family or
teachers rather than professional sources such as a physician or
mental health professional. Many young people believe that they can
handle emotional problems on their own and often report concerns
relating to confidentiality, a fear that no person or service could
help, and the feeling that the problem was too personal to tell
anyone, as barriers for not seeking help.
It is hoped that by teaching students explicitly about mental
health issues and by providing opportunities for students to learn
practical help seeking strategies, we can breakdown the barriers to
accessing appropriate help in the early stages of a mental health
disorders.
This section of the website includes information about mental
health promotion in schools and includes links to current policy
debates and discussions in the area of youth mental health.