Mental health has been known to be stigmatized for many years, as society in general has stereotypical views about mental illness and how it affects people, but also because of people's cultural beliefs. . Mental health is a person's mental state, how they feel mentally, your psychological well-being. Mental health is one of the most popular essay topics and in this article we will understand its importance as it affects the way we think and act, the way we deal with stress and this can then lead to illnesses like depression, social anxiety, anxiety and other major illnesses. troubles. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay. Mental health factors include: biological factors which are genes or brain chemistry, life experiences such as trauma or abuse or even family history of mental health. problems. Sometimes you may just be dissatisfied with your life. Issues that may affect students today may include: Under the pressure of exams, living up to social media's standard of perfection, LGBTQ+ students may feel like they are not accepted for who they are and being victims of bullying, friendships, relationships, poverty, family problems or trauma. Some major mental health issues that students face include: depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, eating disorders, substance abuse, and suicidal issues. Implementing initiatives in schools is an effective way to educate students about mental health, especially at a very young age, and to actually educate students on how to seek help, on the dangers and that taking care of your mental health and well-being is a very serious matter. Over the years, advocacy for mental health in schools began to increase. As research has shown, children facing health challenges like: anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, ADHD, etc., affect the student's concentration when of learning at school and social interactions, which are two fundamental elements for student success. Mental health is an important issue because numerous estimates show that mental health affects many children who do not receive the mental health care they need. Having initiatives and services in schools can help support students who are in difficulty and who are afraid to come forward and ask for help. Usually, children are afraid to ask for help because they are afraid of feeling judged and embarrassed. Some students do not seek help based on their cultural beliefs. Schools also need to ensure that not all students experience the same thing and may respond differently to others when they get support; everyone differs in how they deal with it and what their coping mechanisms are. Addressing mental health issues is a necessity in schools as reports have revealed that one in seven children aged 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with a mental health condition in the previous 12 months, equating to 560 000 Australian children and adolescents. Other reports show that students with mental health conditions affect their attendance and are unable to stay focused in class. Report shows students in grades 1-6 suffering from health problemsmental health are missed on average 12 days per year. As students in grades 7-10 miss an average of 23 days per year, and students in grades 11-12 miss an average of 26 days per year. Students with mental health issues like ADHD, anxiety, and social anxiety make it difficult for them to stay focused in class and understand course content, but they also have difficulty interacting and working with others, which is considered a disadvantage. This is why schools and teachers must put strategies in place to help and support students who are in need and who are struggling with mental health problems. Although every school in Australia has student support and school psychologists, schools have yet to take major action on this serious issue and have only taken a few initiatives to support this topic. A current school initiative that has been implemented in schools is community awareness campaigns such as “RU OK?” DAY". RU, OK? DAY is a day dedicated to inspiring and empowering everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them by asking a simple question "Are you okay?" and supporting someone 'one in case of difficulty. RU OKAY DAY is a suicide prevention charity which takes place every year on September 10. On this day, students in all schools must wear yellow shirts or yellow ribbons to support this. day on RU OK? Stress-free DAY activities are held throughout the day and involve students interacting with each other and checking in on their classmates. Some schools use advocates. mental health to talk to students about the importance of mental health and how we can take care of ourselves, but also to inform students about how and who we can reach out to. Brainstorming is a live tour of schools that is innovative and interactive educational theater that drives positive social change through a range of bullying programs, cybersecurity programs, positive behavior programs, resilience programs and mental health programs. They present plays to students about real-life strategies, but most importantly, advocate for mental health. On RU OK? DAY, they toured schools talking to students about how to express their feelings and support their friends, as well as where they can ask for help. They perform plays that help students identify signs of anxiety or depression and provide information about available supports. Other campaigns include promoting mental health through school newsletters and information evenings, which encourages parents to be more aware of their children's health and wellbeing. Another initiative taken by schools to educate students about mental health is to include it in the school curriculum. as well as having a safe and supportive environment. Mental health is part of the PDHPE curriculum in all primary and secondary schools from foundation to grade 10 and is addressed if chosen in grades 11 and 12. The unit addresses how mental health and wellbeing can be improved at an individual and community level. The content helps students develop the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to manage their own mental health and wellbeing and how to support others. However, it is still not enough for students to actually acquire the necessary knowledge in this serious area, since a twelfth..