Researcher Steven Lehrer of Queen's University and Jason Fletcher of Yale have found a connection between mental health and educational success. In particular, Dr. Lehrer said, they found a direct correlation between poor mental health and the length of time a student stays in school.

A Nov. 13 article on the website News-Medical.net provided the following details about the Lehrer-Fletcher study:

"Our study shows that poor mental health in children and teenagers has a large impact on the length of time they will stay in school," says Dr. Lehrer. He notes a large number of school-based programs have recently been introduced to prevent childhood obesity through lifestyle changes, but suggests the net should be cast more widely. ...

The findings provide strong evidence that inattentive symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in childhood and depression in adolescents are linked to the number of years of completed schooling.

Dr. Lehrer says this points to potentially large benefits from childhood and adolescent health interventions that have not yet been identified. "We focus on the link between health and education because unraveling the mechanisms linking the two will have important implications for policy design."

Labels: mental_health, schools, students

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) has partnered with the Canadian Mental Heath Association’s (CMHA) Alberta division to raise awareness about mental health issues among school-aged children, and raise money to support CMHAs programs.

An Aug. 14 release on the ATA website provides the following details about the effort:

"Mental illness, even in moderate cases, can affect a child's relationships with family and friends, their physical health and their school performance," says Jonathan Teghtmeyer, an executive staff officer with the ATA.

Teachers see many students suffering from stress, depression, eating disorders, self-abuse, and even thoughts of suicide, Teghtmeyer says. "While such problems are family and health issues, they're also educational concerns because they affect a child's ability to learn. Teachers play an important role because they'll often notice a student's mental health situation before the child's parents or medical practitioners."

The objective of the ATA campaign is to increase awareness of mental health concerns and to raise funds to support the work of the CMHA.

It's also hoped that the project will help teachers recognize the symptoms of mental illness in their students and learn how best to handle situations that arise in the classroom due to mental illness. Several ATA locals are already involved in activities to support the work of the CMHA.

Labels: awareness, mental_health, schools, students

They all had their own reasons for dropping out: Megan fell in with the wrong crowd, Jennifer's dad died, Janae was told she wasn't smart enough. And the stories go on.

But at the Life Skills Center in Clearwater, Florida, these stories with different beginnings all had the same ending: a high school diploma.

"Life Skills is a charter school under Pinellas County that offers students an alternative school setting where they can attend school for three to five hours a day year-round to help work around work and family obligations," the Clearwater Beacon reported. "Specialized teachers supervise the class and offer one-on-one help for students struggling with the material."

On August 20, 2008, the Life Skills Center opened with just six students. Today there are more than three hundred. Janae not only has her diploma, but also her CNA (certified nursing assistant) certificate, the Beacon reported. Her goal is to attend college, get a bachelor's degree, and become a registered nurse. Though she was once homeless, she now has a cottage apartment of her own.

Labels: education, students

Dr. Margaret Dowell, adjunct professor at Carroll Community College (Maryland) presented her students with a challenging assignment: Create works of art that highlight the dangers of drug use and addiction.

"Three galleries at Carroll Community College will be crammed with artwork for 'Art and Addiction: Artistic Insights into Addiction in Recovery,' a program co-sponsored by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine."

The exhibit opened Nov. 2. Source: Carroll County Times

Labels: addictions, arts, students

Imagine sitting in a classroom with fellow students, learning about history, math, English, and art. When the school bell rings, your classmates sigh with relief. But for you, the final bell brings feelings of dread because your family is homeless.

"Their numbers are staggering - nearly 700 at the official count by [San Luis Obispo] county school districts last school year. More than 200 of those are 'unaccompanied youth.' And with the tightening economy, those numbers are widely expected to be even higher this year, as more and more local families find themselves without a home to call their own."

School districts do all they can to help give these kids a sense of stability, but the mobile lifestyle gives them no place to sleep or study, putting them at high risk of falling behind or dropping out. Source: New Times in San Luis Obispo

Labels: dropouts, homelessness, students