Principal's Corner

Mental Health Awareness 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Too often a taboo subject, mental illness frequently goes untreated due to a lack of access to resources or social stigma. 

The website of The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has some powerful statistics on Mental Health in Children and Teens, Mental Health in the US, and Mental Health of Underrepresented Groups. In reading these fact sheets, I was particularly struck and saddened by the following:

- 70% of youth in state and local juvenile justice systems have a mental illness.

- LGBTQ individuals are 2 or more times more likely as straight individuals to have a mental health        condition.

- Nearly 50% of youth aged 8-15 didn’t receive mental health services in the previous year.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and our word of the month in May is inclusion. There is such a clear and important connection between these two. Let's honor Mental Health Awareness month by including those who may be suffering and by including compassion and care in our daily interactions. And if you're wondering how to get started, NAMI has some great suggestions! I plan to use the Sentimoji sticker pack.  Setimojis, as defined by NAMI, are "emojis that help #curestigma," and you can download them for free.

Have a wonderful, care-filled week, Firestone! I will leave you with this sentimoji: