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 Stigma
Mental Health Promotion
Mental Health Competency
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 Promotion

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

Resources: 

CASEL School Guide has documented, field-tested, and refined a strategic, collaborative process for schoolwide SEL. 
Youth.gov offers information on mental health promotion and prevention.  
Motivational Interviewing for Teens and Adolescents is a program that can help teens open up, feel heard, and make positive changes in their lives.
Teachable Moment Lessons | Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility provides free, timely lessons to help K–12 students discuss current issues and build social and emotional skills.
20 Mental Health Activities, Games & Worksheets designed to help clients build coping skills, resilience, and comfort with mental health topics.

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 Literacy | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction 
Mental Health Instruction  
The Mental Health Literacy Collaborative 
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has education resources for information on mental health topics, including lesson plans and activities. 
Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has education resources on mental health comprehension, and common mental health challenges and disorders.  
Mental Health for Adolescents | HHS Office of Population Affairs 
World Health Organization - Mental health of adolescents

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: 

BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month: Navigating Stigma | The Trevor Project 
Stigma and discrimination | Mental Health Foundation 
CDC offers resources and information on mental health stigma.  
Student Mental Health Toolkit | Stigma-Free Mental Health

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: 