Children's Mental Health Most Important Aspect

Children need to have a good mental health status if they are going to live up to their full potential and truly live a life that is filled with positive experiences and the willingness to do what is best for themselves and the people around them.

There are a myriad of factors that can impact a child's mental health status, both positively and negatively. Providing children with an environment that demonstrates love, compassion, trust, and understanding will greatly impact a child so that they can build on these stepping stones to have a productive lifestyle. Many children do not receive that type of lifestyle though. Some children have to deal with a childhood that is filled with angst, resentment, hatred, distrust, and constant negativity. They have a difficult time coping with their emotions. These children will usually make excellent candidates for mental health programs. It is a difficult process for any person, let alone a child, to overcome such adversity but being proactive and doing all that you can for the child will at least help their mental health in some positive fashion.

Some children may also be born with mental health issues. These issues are a product of nature rather than nurture so the child may have a more difficult time dealing with his or her emotional state. Many children just naturally feel depressed or have anxiety issues. When these issues are not dealt with in the proper fashion, the children tend to have lower self-esteem and they struggle in the educational environment.

Children with mental health issues will have a difficult time acclimating to different situations. Studies have shown that these children, if left untreated by a mental health professional, will likely to grow up and repeat these same behaviors with their children. These children tend to have a lower self-worth, negative feelings, perform poorly in school, and later become involved in unhealthy lifestyle decisions. However, when these children are properly treated they can learn how to live a more promising life. They can overcome many of the issues that affect them without their consent. These children can live happy and productive lives that are filled with love, harmony, and a great mental health status.

Here in Wisconsin Rogers InHealth (formerly InHealth Wisconsin) has been advocating for early childhood mental health training for teachers. After receiving a grant in 2010, InHealth developed "It's Time! Classroom Mental Health Supports", a workshop designed for educators. Additionally, staff from InHealth created a website with videos featuring teachers demonstrating strategies for dealing with disruptive behaviors in their classrooms. Check out the website at: http://teachingminute.com/

The WSHN Center is hosting a series of "It's Time!" workshops:

Register Online:

 January 25 (Oshkosh) http://www.myquickreg.com/event/event.cfm?eventid=5460

 March 18 (West Salem) http://www.myquickreg.com/event/event.cfm?eventid=5461

Supporting Infants, Toddlers, and Families Impacted by Caregiver Mental Health Problems, Substance Abuse, and Trauma: A Community Action Guide presents resources that service providers, advocates, and practitioners can use to better understand and respond to young children whose caregivers are negatively affected by these issues. The Guide offers information, resources, and tips useful for engaging the wider community to come together for children and families in need of support.

Students could also submit questions in advance of the show through Facebook for possible inclusion in the broadcast. This could be a very useful communications tool for the students that do not see the Teen Connection program.

To find the Facebook page search for Wisconsin Teen Connection. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/#!/WisconsinTeenConnection?fref=ts

The Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center is a collaborative project between the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the CESA Statewide Network (CSN).