Mental Health Curriculum Being Taught To 6th - 12th Graders Per Florida Statute
Florida Statute (6A-1.094121) requires each school district in the state of Florida to provide five hours of curriculum related to youth mental health awareness assistance, including suicide prevention and the impacts of substance abuse for each 6th through 12th grader.
In Taylor County, we will use lessons that include videos that have been specifically created to serve the needs of our students. These lessons and videos have been created by Paul Peavy, Taylor County Mental Health Coordinator, using resources from the National Institute of Mental Health. Mr. Peavy has been a Florida Licensed Mental Health Therapist for over twenty years serving children, adolescents and families in North Florida. He has worked with agencies such as The Department of Children and Family Services, Children’s Medical Services, and Florida State University.
These lessons, under the supervision of Mr. Peavy. will be implemented in the Language Arts classes for middle school students and homeroom for high school students. Each lesson will include a teacher handout with individual questions and classroom discussion or activities. There are ten topics that will be covered, and each lesson will last thirty minutes.
The topics that are required to be covered are:
1. Mental Health Awareness and Assistance
a. Classes discussed characteristics of good mental health, characteristics of mental health problems and resources to help them if they are having a problem.
b. Video link - https://photos.app.goo.gl/ssm7foAKSVGZrPFDA
2. Prevention of Suicide -
a. Students were given a safety plan to fill out for when they are feeling down. They were asked to write down positive activities they can do, positive places they can go and people they can talk to.
b. Video link - https://youtu.be/HYCS79fGY9I
3. How to Reduce the Stigma Around Mental Health Disorder
a. Students were led in a discussion of negative stereotypes of mental health problems and how that might discourage people from speaking up, getting help and adding to their negative feelings.
4. Recognition of Signs and Symptoms of Mental Health Disorders
a. Students were presented with symptoms of mental health disorders from the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition. Students were also encouraged to discuss and come up with what they thought were symptoms of different mental health disorders.
5. The Process of Accessing Treatment
a. A class discussion was held about how to talk with parents and other adults about how to get help for mental health treatment.
6. Strategies to Support A Peer, Friend, or Family Member with a Mental Health Disorder
a. A video was shown talking about how to be supportive of friends and family members with a mental health disorder. A handout with questions about how to help someone in need was filled out by students.
7. Prevention of the Abuse and Addiction to Alcohol, Nicotine, and Drugs
a. A video was shown about the dangers of marijuana and vaping. A class discussion was then held about the dangers of alcohol, nicotine and drugs. Students then discussed ways to prevent abuse and addiction.
b. Video Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6OgLkNNpXc&feature=youtu.be
8. Strategies to Develop Healthy Coping Techniques
a. A video with ways to develop healthy coping techniques was shown. A handout and activity on developing healthy coping techniques was carried out by students.
9. Awareness of Resources, Including Local School and Community Resources
a. A video featuring several local mental health providers and resources was shown. A handout was given to make students aware of local and national resources.
10. Prevention of Mental Health Disorders
a. A Comprehensive Review of Recognizing Symptoms Of Mental Illness, Prevention and Coping With Mental Illness, How To Help A Friend With Mental/Emotional Struggles, and How To Access Treatment. With an emphasis on what to do in these situations over the summer break. A video will be shown reiterating these things in detail and a handout will be given that will be especially helpful for students to have over the summer when they are away from school.
The Taylor County Mental and Emotional Health Education Implementation Plan can be viewed at though this Mental and Emotional Health Education Implementation Plan link
If you have any question, please feel free to contact to contact Paul Peavy, Taylor County Mental Health Coordinator, at 850-838-2506 or you can email him at paul.peavy@taylor.k12.fl.us .
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