Mental Health Literacy

Contacts

Josh Kent 
Mental Health Literacy Instruction Specialist 
564-250-0664 

Tammy Bolen  
SEL / Title IV Assistant Director 
360-701-0575 

Salina James   
Administrative Assistant 3  
360-725-6078  

What is Mental Health Literacy?  

Mental Health Literacy (MHL) involves students' understanding of age-appropriate mental health concepts and challenges, awareness of how stigma affects mental health, direction for available resources, and development of coping strategies and healthy routines.   

Mental Health Literacy is rooted in principles that prioritize strength-based, trauma-informed, equity focused and social emotional learning. The following mental health learning units are necessary core elements that make up a student’s mental health and well-being:   

  • Mental Health Competency  
  • Mental Health Promotion  
  • Mental Health Stigma   
  • Mental Health Advocacy and Seeking Help

Increasing mental health literacy leads to positive mental health; students can regulate their emotions, cope with stressors, and demonstrate behavioral management skills. Students can also increase connection to their school environment, academic functioning, and prosocial behaviors. 

Mental Health Literacy Resource Toolkit

Mental Health Competency

Knowledge on how healthy minds impact classroom learning, what impacts mental health, how mental health changes over time, signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, and common treatments.

Resources:  

Mental Health Promotion 

Identify activities and strategies to foster and maintain positive mental health and well-being through daily action and community connection.

Resources: 

Mental Health Stigma

Knowledge about the types of mental health stigma and its impact on our individuality and community, and strategies to challenge stigma and promote acceptance through attitude, language and action.    

Resources:  

Mental Health Advocacy and Seeking Help 

Learn how to advocate for yourself and others, which will help identify and connect to school or community mental health resources, use self-help strategies and seek trusted adults and provide a helping hand to a peer.  

Resources:  

Washington MHL Health Education Learning Standards 

Briefs 

Professional Learning 

WA State Mental Health Resources

Resources | NAMI Washington  

Crisis System of SW Washington – NAMI Southwest Washington  

Downloadable Infographics