Great Ideas to Make a Difference for Mental
Health
May is
National Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a great time to take steps to
make a difference on behalf of children’s mental health. Consider some of the
following activities to highlight the importance of mental wellness and school-based
mental health services to children’s positive learning and development.
Participate in Children’s Mental
Health Awareness Day, Thursday, May 8th
NASP is a
co-sponsor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. Consider
organizing one of the suggested activities on Thursday May 8th. Join
hundreds of other groups around the country who will celebrate the various ways
children and youth with mental health needs work to overcome their challenges
and thrive at home, at school, and in the community. This year our focus is on
the resiliency of high school youth, who are more likely to have positive
outcomes when they receive the services and supports they need. More
information is available at http://www.systemsofcare.samhsa.gov/nationalawareness/index.aspx.
You can also view and download video clips here.
Participate in NASP’s first Best Practices V Online Learning Event, May 5-9. Join fellow NASP members
and BPV chapter author Brian McKevitt to discuss Implementing Positive
Behavioral Supports at the school level.
Distribute or post on your school’s
website the adaptable article on PBS in the insert. Don’t have a website? Consider
creating one using the “Create Your Own Website” resources. All available
online http://www.nasponline.org/communications/webpage/index.aspx
Outreach to your local school
board. NASP
President Rhonda Armistead’s viewpoint article on school-based mental health
services appeared in the March issue of School
Board News, newspaper of the National Association of School Boards. This is
a great spring board to do a presentation, send an article, or host a brown bag
discussion with local school board members. View the article and background
from the March CQ at http://www.nasponline.org/publications/cq/mocq366commmatters.aspx
Participate in the Resilience
Builder Program. A
great success during School Psychology Awareness Week, honoring teachers and
other school staff for their contribution to students’ resilience is a terrific
way to recognize the prevention/wellness promotion aspects of school-based
mental health. It is easy, positive and online. Visit http://www.nasponline.org/communications/spawareness/index.aspx
Plan a Continuum of School-Based
Mental Health Month. Provide a parent or teacher resource each week on one part of the mental health
continuum—prevention/wellness promotion (PBS or social skills), targeted
intervention (discipline or bullying), intensive intervention (suicide
prevention and intervention). Adaptable articles, handouts, and presentations
are available at http://www.nasponline.org/communications/spawareness/index.aspx
Plan an inservice training for school
staff. In addition
to the resources in the Communications section of the website, there are a
myriad of handouts and presentations on mental health issues from the 2008
convention in
New Orleans.
NASP members can download and use these for their own edification, as research
to create a presentation, or as the basis for a training (with permission from
the original creator). Available at http://www.nasponline.org/conventions/2008conventionhandouts.aspx
Distribute NASP bookmarks. Attractive and affordable, NASP “Mental
Health Matters” and “Resilience: Building Strength for Life” bookmarks are a
great way to share positive messages about supporting students’ mental health
with parents, teachers, and students. Just $10.00 per 100 pack. Available
online at http://www.nasponline.org/publications/index.aspx