Mental Health Class for Youth Changes Lives

Published: 2019
By Jesse Fulbright

Mental health awareness continues to gain footholds in the everyday lexicon, as well as work and school systems. Recognizing that mental health needn’t have a social stigma around it, more and more people are willing to discuss the effects of good and bad mental health on them and those around them. To promote a better understanding of how to maintain positive mental health and how to help those around them, Liberty County MSU Extension has continued to partner with Chester-Joplin-Inverness High School and Liberty County Commissioner Maureen Wicks to offer a 5-hour long curriculum to high school freshmen. The curriculum, titled Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM), showcases an interactive program for youth, promoting increased discussion and knowledge about mental health and the development of problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence. Over the five-session course in 2019, seven youth gained an awareness of mental health and suicidal thoughts and developed problem-solving skills in relation to those issues. Students also recognized the need to think through situations and circumstances to determine the most beneficial actions. Students have also begun to have conversations with their peers about mental health. Youth stated observations from the class: "I learned that some people will look depressed and you need to realize it, and how to help people in many different ways." "I've learned the importance of mental health and some signs to look for." "I've learned signs that might be a sign of depression or suicide. It has changed my perspective on how to deal with things." "This class made me more aware of everyone's actions and feelings." “We learned the signs and how to help, so we are skilled in helping anyone."