From the early years of a child’s development, the child spends a lot of time at school with his/her teachers. Sometimes, one could even argue that the child spends more ‘awake time’ at school than at home. Therefore, it should never come as a surprise that teachers have a role to play in a child’s mental health.
Often times, they may not realise it but their imprints on the children in their care have a lasting effect. Take for example how we saw an outpouring of love on them yesterday (World Teachers Day). Some of us personally took to our social media to talk about our most memorable experiences in school. We even sent our favourites text messages to show our appreciation. Even at MANI, we had a throwback to a mental health training which we did for teachers in collaboration with Act Foundation and Access Bank.
Should We Therefore Train Teachers in Mental Health?
Yes! It goes without saying that they should be sufficiently trained to handle mental/emotional distress amongst the children in their care. More than this, they should be able to foster a classroom environment that improves mental wellbeing.
The ability of teachers to identify issues amongst students that may be mental health related, and the readiness of the school to partner with parents to address these issues can lead to a reduction in cases of depression, suicide ideations etc. amongst school-aged children.
Essentially, we should all do what we can to empower them with mental health knowledge. With assistance from school owners, the Ministry of Education, and parent’s association, teachers can be adequately empowered. Can you imagine a Nigeria that does not treat mental health with stigma at the foundation level? This would in the long run, eradicate stigma entirely.
Read on Practical Ways for Schools to Manage Mental Health Among Students