According to the surgeon general, every teacher has at least three children in their class right now living with a mental health condition - biological brain disorders severe enough to warrant professional intervention. And chances are 40% of them are not receiving the care they need - often because they are embarrassed to talk about it.
Fortunately, the news is good. There is treatment and recovery is possible.
At NAMI Central Texas we know that these children are not alone. Caring and observant teachers, schools and parents/caregivers are looking for ways to help. We’ve developed programs and resources designed for teachers and schools to help not only understand the challenges, but to address them with practical and empathetic approaches.
“This gave me strength to tell someone about a friend, she is not doing well.”
Ending the Silence
Presentation for students
Geared to middle and high school students; presenters include a positive role model - a young adult living in recovery from a mental health condition
Understanding what it means to live with a mental health condition is critical for middle and high school students – especially given that 50% of all lifetime cases of mental health conditions begin by age 14 and 75% by age 24. This presentation is geared to not only raise awareness of mental health conditions but to reduce the stigma so that individuals can seek help.
Ending the Silence (teens) is most powerful when presented as a companion to Let's Talk (parents).
What students will learn:
- Signs and symptoms of mental illness
- Statistics on mental illness and it’s affect on middle and high school students
- How to seek help for themselves or a friend
- Recovery and coping strategies
- Understanding mental illness and ways to reduce the stigma
What students will keep:
- Contact information for mental health agencies and youth support services
- List of symptoms and warning signs of mental illness
"PTAA gave me a new understanding of the importance of my role in early recognition of kids with symptoms of mental illness and the urgency of early intervention on their behalf."
Parents & Teachers As Allies
Presentation for teachers and school administrators
Silence is one of the greatest challenges we must overcome to help students who are living with mental illness. Teachers and administrators can help – when armed with knowledge of the symptoms and empathy for parents/caregivers and the student.
What teachers and staff will learn:
- The difference between bad behavior and symptoms of mental illness
- Early warning signs of a student in crisis
- How to communicate and partner with families effectively
- Where to find additional mental health resources
"Hearing your story and your sons story was helpful. My son attempted suicide a year ago and hearing your story touched my soul. Thank you!"
Let's Talk
Presentation for parents of teens and pre-teens
More than 40% of teens are not receiving the care and treatment they need–often because they are too embarrassed to talk about mental health or don’t know how to ask for help. Parents don't know how to bring up this difficult subject with their children either. This one-hour presentation empowers parents to talk to their teens about mental health by dispelling mental health myths and providing useful resources and healthy language to use.
What parents will learn:
- How to talk to your teen about mental health
- The difference between bad behavior and symptoms of mental illness
- Early warning signs of a teen in crisis