It’s February 9th, 2011, the day that Bell Canada has set aside to talk about mental health. More than just the company offering to donate 5 cents for every text message or long distance call made today to support mental health related programs across Canada, Bell hopes to begin an open conversation about issues related to mental health, not the least of which is the silence often associated with the topic.
So, I woke up this morning thinking about mental health: my own, that of my family and friends, and the mental well-being of the students that I teach.
In particular, I got to thinking about the importance of mental health as an educator–as someone who affects the lives of children and young people on a daily basis. As a middle age male, I’ve spent time thinking about my physical fitness, but my mental health? Well, to be quite honest, its not something that has really crossed my mind (!) a great deal.
So today, I wanted to do some thinking and some writing about mental health, especially as it affects my life as a teacher.
I’ve posted this blog entry as a type of placeholder for writing that I intend to do later in the day. But I also wanted to get this up early in the day and invite you to submit comments and links related to your own thoughts about mental health, specifically as it relates to life in schools. Do you have stories, strategies or ideas to share that might ensure that this important issue becomes part of our conversation as parents and educators?
Feel free to post a link or your own thoughts in the comment section below, or email me at stephen.hurley@sympatico.ca
Later today, I will collect all that I receive and include it in a follow-up blog entry.
Teachers and Mental Health: Let’s begin a conversation.
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