According to the surgeon general, every teacher has at least three children in their class right now living with a mental health condition. Chances are 40% of them are not receiving the care they need - often because they are embarrassed to talk about it. Fortunately, the news is good. There is treatment and recovery is possible.
At NAMI Fox Valley, we know that these children are not alone. Caring and observant teachers, schools and parents/caregivers are looking for ways to help. We’ve developed age-appropriate education programs and resources designed for teachers and schools to help not only understand the challenges, but to address them with practical and empathetic approaches. Presentations are available and customized for elementary, middle and high school classrooms. Read descriptions and request presentations below.
Questions? Contact NAMI Fox Valley's Community Outreach Coordinator, Megan Zimmerman, at mzimmerman@namifoxvalley.org.
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- Educate elementary students about NAMI & mental illness
- Help students understand that getting medical help for a mental illness is similar to getting medical help for a broken arm or the flu
- Educate students that 1 in 5 people live with a mental illness
- Provide positive coping skills for dealing with strong emotions
- Teach students how to help themselves or a friend identify an adult they can talk to if feeling sad/depressed/anxious
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- The adverse effects of mental health stigma
- Warning signs of diagnoses particularly prevalent in teens and the stigma that often accompanies these diagnoses
- Mental health treatment options and the importance of seeking out treatment early in life
- Healthy coping mechanisms