After a vote last week by its state Board of Education, Florida will now require all students to take mental health classes starting in the 6th grade. While the only requirement mandates only five hours of classes each year, the mental health community should view this as a welcome first step.
The classes will outline the signs and symptoms of mental health maladies and include information on how students can seek and receive mental health treatment for themselves or friends. Class material will also touch upon ways that students can talk to their peers about potential mental illnesses.
Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran celebrated the launch of the program as “just the beginning” and promised to redefine Florida, the country’s third most populous state, as “the number-one state in the nation in terms of mental health outreach and school safety.”
The vote comes at a time when bullying and cyberbullying are at an all-time high. Between one and three kids today say they have been bullied at school, according to stopbullying.gov. School Crime Supplement, a government organization that promotes “safe supportive learning”reports that 20 percent of students ages 12-18 have experienced bullying.
“Time is a critical factor,” the rule’s summary says. “Approximately one in five youth in Florida, and worldwide, experience mental health disorders prior to turning age 25.”
“It’s no secret that mental illness robs students of the ability to reach their full potential, and we are joining forces to combat [these diseases] and give our students the tools they need to thrive,” Corcoran said in a statement.
Florida’s first lady Casey DeSantis applauded the move in a tweet.
According to the nonprofit Mental Health America, Florida has one of the worst reputations and lowest ratings when it comes to how it confronts youth mental health.
Florida has been under pressure, to address its mental health problem especially in the wake of last year’s shooting in Parkland. The shooter in that event had a history of mental health problems.
Controversially, Florida has also been on the forefront of arming teachers, bestowing the name “Guardians” on those educators who volunteer to help in active shooter situations.
Mental Health America has ranked Florida number 32 out of 51 (Washington, D.C. being included) in its appraisal of the state’s minors. Lower rankings indicate a state’s children have a higher rate of mental illness and fewer opportunities for care.
Florida is not the first to require mandatory mental health classes. New York and Virginia added classes to their curriculums last year.
