A Senate bill to encourage physical and mental health education in schools is being considered in a House committee.
Senate Bill 24, sponsored by Sen. Elvi Gray Jackson, would add mental health and physical health to the list of health topics that schools are encouraged to include in their K-12 health programs. be. The State Board of Education and Early Development would be required to provide school districts with guidelines for developmentally appropriate mental health instruction.
In a statement accompanying the bill, Gray-Jackson said the bill “aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, increase student knowledge about mental health, and encourage conversation and understanding about this issue.” I wrote.
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District's policy is to develop students' potential through programs that “foster physical, mental, and emotional health.”
According to the district's health curriculum, students receive instruction on mental and physical health during grades 7 through 12.
Fairbanks middle and high school students will learn about nutrition, fitness and hygiene, personal health, the stages of stress and how it affects the body, stress management, warning signs and how to deal with depression, identifying different types of mental disorders, personal Learn about recognizing health conditions. Describe stressors and discuss healthy coping strategies.
The district also has a social-emotional learning and prevention team that “prioritizes social and emotional learning, school climate, equity and inclusion, trauma-informed practices, and student empowerment.”
A 2022 poll by Alaska Survey Research found that 93% of Fairbanks residents believe mental health issues are prevalent among Alaska's youth, and 87% said children should learn about mental health in school. I think it should.
The bill passed the Senate with 15 “yes” votes in March and had its first hearing Thursday afternoon in the House Health Services Committee.
Twenty-six organizations in Alaska have jointly signed a letter supporting mental health education for youth.
“Mental health is an important part of overall health, a fact that has been highlighted for the first time by this pandemic. Enabling communities to provide a more complete health curriculum will help support young people when they need it most.” This is a clear step that we can take to ensure that we can meet the demands of our customers.”
Opponents expressed concerns that schools would be encouraging the use of psychiatric drugs without parental input.
Stephen Pearce, chairman of the Civil and Human Rights Commission, wrote that without amendments, the focus will be on prevention of withdrawal from psychiatric medications and that the state commission will consult the United Nations World Health Organization. Mental health education only turns students and schools into a pipeline for diagnosis, labeling, and referral for psychiatric treatment without effectively impacting mental health crises, suicide rates, etc. . ”
“We know we can support the whole child, who also needs mental and physical health support,” said Meredith Maple, a member of the school board.
“In our day-to-day work, we often talk about basic needs and how we meet the basic needs of children. Of course, that also includes access to emotional support, physical activity, and play. Included,” Maple said. “It's more than just food, water, and shelter, and that's what we've come to understand as a society.”
Maple added that it is powerful for Congress to recognize how important physical and mental health education is.
School board member Bobby Burgess, who supports districts teaching mental and physical health, said the Fairbanks School District already has these as part of its curriculum.
Both Burgess and Maple expressed concern that the bill would ask school districts to do more without providing additional funding.
“My only concern is that we end up making more demands on our teachers and everyone in our schools without properly funding those demands,” Maple said. .
This bill provides funding to develop developmentally appropriate instruction.
