As a component of First Lady Casey DeSantis' "Hope for Healing Florida" program, the State Board of Education has approved the implementation of 5 hours of mental health instruction for all public school students in grades 6-12 on an annual basis. Required topics to be covered in the instruction are:
- Awareness of sign and symptoms.
- Process of getting or seeking help for themselves or others.
- Awareness of resources ( i.e., Fortify Florida app and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-825).
- What to do or say to peers struggling with mental health disorders.
- Awareness of sign and symptoms.
- Process of getting or seeking help for themselves or others.
- Awareness of resources ( i.e., Fortify Florida app and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-825).
- What to do or say to peers struggling with mental health disorders.
As of now, it is unclear how the program will be implemented or even if this will occur during the upcoming school year. First Lady Casey DeSantis states "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. Providing mental health instruction is another important step forward in supporting our families.”
Please go here for the full article: http://www.fldoe.org/newsroom/latest-news/
Please go here for the full article: http://www.fldoe.org/newsroom/latest-news/
