Teach Mental Health Basics

1 Co-sponsor

• Robert Jackson

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring teachers colleges to incorporate a course of instruction in mental health

Purpose or general idea of the bill

Directs the commissioner of education to require teachers colleges to provide a course of instruction in mental health prior to each student's graduation.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 adds a new subdivision 56 to section 305 of the education law to read as follows:

56. The commissioner shall establish and enforce rules and regulations requiring every college for teachers or teachers college within the state to provide a course of instruction in mental health within current curriculum.

Section 2 contains the effective date.

Justification

It is well-documented that teaching about mental health in schools reduces stigma and bullying while encourages youth to seek help. Youth who seek help earlier have better outcomes and improved academic performance than those who go without help.

Mental health is one of the top health problems for children and teens. Over 200,000 New York children and teens, or one in five, have a mental health diagnosis.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth aged 15 to 19 in New York (www.nyskwic.org). It is the 2nd leading cause of death for Latina adolescents in our state.

More than 50 percent of students labeled with emotional or behavioral disorders drop out of high school and, of those who do remain in school, only 42 percent graduate with a high school diploma. Despite the need for mental health awareness and mental health education, New York State's health curriculum doesn't require the teaching of mental health at teaching colleges to better prepare future teachers when they enter they enter their classrooms.

Our schools have become pressure mills. High stakes testing and economic pressures are creating a stressed out generation. As policy makers debate Common Core, other high stakes testing, and college affordabili- ty, our teachers and students report increased anxiety in the classroom.

According to researchers at Indiana University, up to 30% of students experience anxiety that can have significant negative impact on their ability to perform at an optimal level. (http://www.nasponline.org) Long term impacts include depression, anxiety attacks, social withdrawal, and low self-esteem. Students often blame themselves for not being smart enough. Adaptation mechanisms may include "not even trying" or avoiding or even refusing to go to school.

As these symptoms develop and are more visible to teachers and school staff, there is no training in place for these professionals to help identify a mental health issues or what to do if they suspect there is one.

By requiring that a course in mental health is taken prior to graduating from teaching colleges in NYS, future teachers will be better equipped with identifying students in need of help. Acquiring these skills is not trivial. For many students it is a life and death situation as teen suicide rates and violent behavior by male and female youth has become more pronounced in daily life.

Prior legislative history

A.9060 of 2016. Died in committee. A3686C of 2018. Died in committee.

Fiscal implications for state and local government

None

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the 90th day after it shall become law.