Counselor’s Corner - April 12, 2023 Issue
Dear Teacher,
There was a time in my life when I truly struggled with mental health. I had experienced the loss of a pregnancy, was grappling with the changes of being a newlywed, and was working two jobs to overcome graduate school debt. After seeing my primary care physician, I was diagnosed with anxiety and given a treatment plan. I was finally on the right track!
However, after sharing this journey with a close family member, the response was, "You're really cracking up." Those painful words still linger with me today...not because I believed them, but because the stigma of mental health was so evident. It struck me how close-minded others were toward the care and healing of minds and emotions! I purposed in my heart to do the following:
(1.) Never place a similar stigma on myself or others,
(2.) Promote mental health in my circles of influence,
(3.) Work as a change-agent to de-stigmatize mental health and create cultures of acceptance wherever I was.
And you, teacher, there in your classroom, can purpose to do the same. As you plan for next month, consider using May's National Mental Health Awareness as a time when you can break the stigma through careful attention to students' mental and emotional wellbeing. Here are some resources for empowering students to meet their mental health needs:
Thank you, educator, for breaking barriers for mental health and empowering students to "guard [their] hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7)."
Praising God for your heart and mind,
Mindy Salyers
Christian School Counselor