(Photo Source: responsiveclassroom.org)
Middle Schoolers Will Be Required To Take Mental Health Classes
Changes are coming to Florida public schools and it’s all in an effort to better educate our children of the changing times and themselves. The state’s board of education approved changes to the curriculum Wednesday, mandating that Florida’s public schools will be required to give students a minimum of five hours instruction on mental health issues beginning in 6th grade after.
Students will have to take classes that will help them identify the signs and symptoms of mental illness and find resources if they or someone they know are battling with depression or any other issue. Other potential classes will explore issues related to cyberbullying, the effects of substance abuse, or suicide prevention.
Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, the wife of Gov. Ron DeSantis, cares deeply about children’s mental health.
“We know that 50 percent of all mental illness cases begin by age 14, so we are being proactive in our commitment to provide our kids with the necessary tools to see them through their successes and challenges,” Casey DeSantis said in a statement.
She hopes that with this new measure, providing mental health instruction will pave the way to better support families. Currently, though, the state board has not decided how schools will implement the required courses into regular school schedules.
By: Maytinee Kramer
