should schools provide classes on mental health?

[Knockturn Alley]

Well this is in light of all the shootouts which has ever occurred in the US. The one common link among them is that they were all committed by someone who didn't get along with people, who had a growing feeling of hate, and who had few or no friends.

We give a lot of importance to physical education in schools, I thinks it's high time mental health was also considered. Self help guides to ward off depression and suicidal thoughts, self counselling and most of all awareness should be mandatory for all students.

My greatest regret is that almost all of them could have been prevented if the attacker was aware of his own problems, and action was taken immediately. Students should be taught to recognize signs of depression and inform counsellors immediately.

Right now mental health is of utmost importance since the common man has the means to harm people a lot more than they could in the past.

So what say you NSG?

[Enfaru]

In passing reference only. Therefore, no.

I admit that education is great and all and will solve all the worlds problems... however the problem here is who is doing the teaching with what qualifications. Can you imagine a class full of 9 year olds being told about depression? It would be a playground joke/bullying in a matter of minutes. Everyone would trying to be diagnosing everyone. No. It's highly inappropriate for anyone other than a psychiatrist/psychologist to be teaching about mental health and there just aren't enough of them to go around. (Taking it as an extra along side a teaching degree really doesn't count).

We have 'problems' with sex education. Not that it shouldn't be taught in schools. If the parents (who should be teaching them this stuff) aren't teaching them, then the school has to step in obviously. Yet while we don't necessarily see bullying caused from the lessons...we can see how a lot of teachers just stick on a video or tryto put a condom on two straightened fingers and you think something that has barely managed to get itself considered a real medical problem is ready for classroom teaching? They're just not equipped.

...and we don't want to give them the money to get equipped. So no. :|.

[Costa Fierro]

Why should the students do it when the teacher should be the one observing behaviors of certain students and approaching them and asking what is wrong? If someone is showing repeated behavioral patterns that the teacher notices, they should be the ones to do something about it.

Most students really couldn't give two shits about anyone else unless it concerns them.

[Teemant]

I don't think is necessary.

[Uawc]

It's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned, but moreover, every school should have a counsellor trained in psychology who the students can always go to.

The way to stop extreme violence in schools lies in education and compassion, not gun legislation.

[Teemant]

It's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned, but moreover, every school should have a counsellor trained in psychology who the students can always go to.

The way to stop extreme violence in schools lies in education and compassion, not gun legislation.

Students have enough classes already. If they have to learn too much non-education related stuff then quality of the education will suffer.

[Uawc]

It's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned, but moreover, every school should have a counsellor trained in psychology who the students can always go to.

The way to stop extreme violence in schools lies in education and compassion, not gun legislation.

Students have enough classes already. If they have to learn too much non-education related stuff then quality of the education will suffer.

There are plenty of places where they could fit it in. Assemblies, health class, electives, etc.

The quality of education is already shit because it's about prepping kids to find jobs more than it is for producing a cultured and educated citizenry.

[Teemant]

Students have enough classes already. If they have to learn too much non-education related stuff then quality of the education will suffer.

There are plenty of places where they could fit it in. Assemblies, health class, electives, etc.

The quality of education is already shit because it's about prepping kids to find jobs more than it is for actually educating people.

What's bad about if kids can find job in the future? It's the only way to keep economic growth going and productivity up.

[The Conez Imperium]

Every school should offer social services to all students. But I think providing mass teaching by regular teaches is a bit too far and unrealistic.

[Keyboard Warriors]

Well this is in light of all the shootouts which has ever occurred in the US. The one common link among them is that they were all committed by someone who didn't get along with people, who had a growing feeling of hate, and who had few or no friends.

We give a lot of importance to physical education in schools, I thinks it's high time mental health was also considered. Self help guides to ward off depression and suicidal thoughts, self counselling and most of all awareness should be mandatory for all students.

My greatest regret is that almost all of them could have been prevented if the attacker was aware of his own problems, and action was taken immediately. Students should be taught to recognize signs of depression and inform counsellors immediately.

Right now mental health is of utmost importance since the common man has the means to harm people a lot more than they could in the past.

So what say you NSG?

What sort of classes on mental health are we talking about? Once a week, once a day, once a month, once a semester? What's involved in these classes? Are students going to be monitored in these classes or is this strictly an educational exercise? Is the way which mental health is presently taught in schools not adequate for you? Why? How are you fitting this into the curriculum?

[Keyboard Warriors]

Students have enough classes already. If they have to learn too much non-education related stuff then quality of the education will suffer.

There are plenty of places where they could fit it in. Assemblies, health class, electives, etc.

The quality of education is already shit because it's about prepping kids to find jobs more than it is for producing a cultured and educated citizenry.

How would you like schools to focus more on producing a cultured and educated citizenry?

[Teemant]

There are plenty of places where they could fit it in. Assemblies, health class, electives, etc.

The quality of education is already shit because it's about prepping kids to find jobs more than it is for producing a cultured and educated citizenry.

How would you like schools to focus more on producing a cultured and educated citizenry?

How about remaining one of the most powerful economies in the world?

[Keyboard Warriors]

How would you like schools to focus more on producing a cultured and educated citizenry?

How about remaining one of the most powerful economies in the world?

I don't believe the US school system in recent memory has ever been about churning out future workers who can't necessarily think. Suffice to say, I disagree with both of you.

[Uawc]

There are plenty of places where they could fit it in. Assemblies, health class, electives, etc.

The quality of education is already shit because it's about prepping kids to find jobs more than it is for actually educating people.

What's bad about if kids can find job in the future? It's the only way to keep economic growth going and productivity up.

Nothing at all - as a matter of fact, I think it's very important - but there needs to be a balance, and right now, there isn't any.

Furthermore, Canadian schools aren't funded anywhere near well enough to do a good job on this. Instead of buying all those F-35s, we should be educating future generations.

There are plenty of places where they could fit it in. Assemblies, health class, electives, etc.

The quality of education is already shit because it's about prepping kids to find jobs more than it is for producing a cultured and educated citizenry.

How would you like schools to focus more on producing a cultured and educated citizenry?

I would democratize education.

[Keyboard Warriors]

What's bad about if kids can find job in the future? It's the only way to keep economic growth going and productivity up.

Nothing at all - as a matter of fact, I think it's very important - but there needs to be a balance, and right now, there isn't any.

Furthermore, Canadian schools aren't funded anywhere near well enough to do a good job on this. Instead of buying all those F-35s, we should be educating future generations.

How would you like schools to focus more on producing a cultured and educated citizenry?

I would democratize education.

What do you mean by that?

[Desmendura]

Why should they? I don't feel that it's necessary.

[Teemant]

What's bad about if kids can find job in the future? It's the only way to keep economic growth going and productivity up.

Nothing at all - as a matter of fact, I think it's very important - but there needs to be a balance, and right now, there isn't any.

Furthermore, Canadian schools aren't funded anywhere near well enough to do a good job on this. Instead of buying all those F-35s, we should be educating future generations.

How would you like schools to focus more on producing a cultured and educated citizenry?

I would democratize education.

Buying F-35s is important as well. There should be no cuts when it comes to defence spending. This gives future generation assurance that it is safe to live there and they will stay there.

[Costa Fierro]

The quality of education is already shit because it's about prepping kids to find jobs more than it is for producing a cultured and educated citizenry.

Funnily enough, it doesn't. It will teach you about shit like mitosis, calculus, the plight of Indonesian factory workers and alliteration. But it won't tell you how to arrange your bank accounts, budget weekly expenses, pay taxes or figure out insurance policies. Shit, American schools won't even tell you the basics of what happens when the male penis (by some miracle for some) enter's a woman's vagina because "it will make Jesus cry".

Do you still think knowing when to use the imperfect tense and what happens when you put sodium into a tub of water is useful in the real world?

[Alizeria]

My response to this thread is the same as my response to "should schools provide sex education":

Are you trying to tell me that there are developed countries out there that don't teach people about mental health?! I genuinely find this to be astonishing and shocking.

[Costa Fierro]

Are you trying to tell me that there are developed countries out there that don't teach people about mental health?!

New Zealand? I remember sitting in classes learning how to put a condom on with my eyes closed and talking about drugs. Nowhere did it touch on mental health.

[Alizeria]

If they have to learn too much non-education related stuff then quality of the education will suffer.

I can't even get my head around this quote, such is the level of utter absurdity presented here.

To learn something non-education related is a contradiction in terms. Everything you learn is education, that's what education is.

I politely daresay that the poster of the above quote is apparently sorely in need of education (don't worry, I'll make sure it's an education-related education), perhaps then his opinion on this delicate and important matter might stand a chance of carrying some weight, assuming that he somehow constructs a rational argument as to why students don't need to learn about mental health.

[Risottia]

So what say you NSG?

No. That's a task for the national health service.

[Alizeria]

Are you trying to tell me that there are developed countries out there that don't teach people about mental health?!

New Zealand? I remember sitting in classes learning how to put a condom on with my eyes closed and talking about drugs. Nowhere did it touch on mental health.

Really? Because when I was at school we touched upon it at primary school, then in more detail at intermediate and then spent an entire term on nothing but the subject in Year 10.

Perhaps... opening your eyes in class might have helped?

(Or you just went to a shitty school, which is possible given that the quality of various public schools in New Zealand is starting to show a significant disparity.)

[Costa Fierro]

Really? Because when I was at school we touched upon it at primary school, then in more detail at intermediate and then spent an entire term on nothing but the subject in Year 10.

Well, I was diagnosed with Asperger's in primary school and this was largely kept a secret between the staff who needed to know (i.e the teacher and a few others) and my family. Mental health was the least concern of the school in terms of teaching other kids about it, although my behavior obviously showed that I wasn't "normal".

It was basically the same through intermediate and college. None of the health classes in intermediate and college said anything about mental health (that I can remember anyway). It was basically just sex and drugs.

(Or you just went to a shitty school, which is possible given that the quality of various public schools in New Zealand is starting to show a significant disparity.)

Primary and intermediate were kinda shitty. College was one of the best academically achieving public schools in the region.

[Genovia-Karlsruhe]

Yes,our government believes it should. Our federal curriculum included mental health as part of the personal development course.