November 10, 2021
3:00 - 4:00 PM/MST | 4:00 - 5:00 PM/CST
Registration is free and required. This session is available to individuals residing in HHS Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, and WY). Certificates of Attendance will be available.
The stigma surrounding mental health has emerged as one of the leading barriers to accessing mental health services in rural communities and schools. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2009 and 2019, an increasing percentage of American youth reported feeling sad or hopeless for at least two weeks “to the degree that they could not engage in their usual activities.” A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2018 reported that 70 percent of teenagers said anxiety and depression were major problems among their peers. Additionally, the percentage of students who seriously considered suicide or made a suicide plan has also risen in the last decade. Suicide has become the second leading cause of death among adolescents.
As the need to thoughtfully address mental health issues in school continues to increase, educators and staff must normalize the conversation about mental health and seeking help. The first step towards normalizing the conversation about mental health is to dispel the misunderstandings and stigma about mental health, mental illness, and the people who experience mental health symptoms. This training will examine ways to identify and address mental health stigma in rural school settings.
After attending this session, participates will be able to:
