The states of New York and Virginia have become the first two
states to pass laws that will require mental health education in schools.
The legislation in New York states will mandate an update to
current curriculum in elementary, middle and high schools. The Virginia law will require that meal health
education be integrated into the current health and phys. Ed curriculum for
students I the 9th and 10th grades.
With the rapid increase in teen depression and suicide as
well as the current opioid addiction crisis, it would seem timely (or overdue)
that someone would take the initiative. According to a recent CNN article “
suicide is the second leading cause of death among people between the ages of
15 and 24.
If your state has not established an initiate to deal with
the epidemic, please contact school and government officials where you live and
make the critical points that would help decision makers to at least establish
a dialogue and to craft policies and legislation to deal with this crisis.
c. 2018 J. Margolis
