Educator Mental Health Awareness
Understanding the Need
According to EEP 1/4 Fellows, School Mental Health Awareness is important. Below is a small representation of their imagery responses during their journey:
Sometimes it’s hard to feel like you’re not alone and making sure you surround yourself with people who can help and validate you is important mental health.”
”It is good for students to talk about their feelings and mental health.”
As a professional I aspire to be the change I wish to see in the world! I hope to have a positive impact on the students I teach, and make a difference in their life.
School mental health services are extremely important because there are many students who through so much and school might be the only place that feel safe.
I believe that it is important for a teacher to be aware of their students mental health to be able to intervene.
Actions such as creating relationships with students, allowing them to have mental breaks in the middle of lessons, talking about self care to students, and other things
About the Pathway
NITEP Fellows developed increased awareness of their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs related to a career in education, and how these can impact the NITEP Fellows’ own professional development as an educator. Further, recognizing and supporting the mental health needs of students and their families is imperative in a successful school system. NITEP Fellows engaged in modules that focused on various mental health topics and how they relate to their professional development and the school setting. Topics included career stress, risk factors, crisis, social-emotional well-being, and wellness strategies.
Fellow Reflections
Fellows engaged in knowledge building and reflection regarding how their own mental health can affect their personal and professional wellness along with how they handle career stress. By learning various strategies and building a “toolbox” of resources, Fellows can better handle their own journey of mental health and wellness and be there for their students. According to the EEP 1/4 Fellows:
“Teachers providing mental health support is something I love to see because of my own experience as a student.”
I aspire to be a safe space for all of my students and provide a classroom that is inclusive and allows them to be themselves.
”It is good for students to talk about their feelings and mental health.”
Teachers are on the front lines in students’ lives and see first hand the mental health struggles that can emerge. Starting a toolbox of information and resources can help in the moment when there is a child in need. Teachers also need to know there is help in the school system to provide additional supports to students and their families. Fellows’ imagery responses and toolbox resource examples include:
Team
Heather Dahl-Jacinto
NITEP EEP Lead, UNLV & Assistant Professor
Wendy Hoskins
NITEP EEP Lead, UNLV & Associate Professor
This EEP was made possible thanks to community partnerships as well as generous funding from the Nevada Department of Education to support the Nevada Institute on Educator Preparation (NITEP) and the Nevada Institute on Educator Preparation, Retention, & Research (NIEPRR).
