Irish Times article - "Mental health should be on the secondary school curriculum"

Link to article in the Irish Times. 

Mental health on the secondary school curriculum would indeed be a step in the right direction. Education would definitely be beneficial. However an online course would hardly cover the depth of the problem and multitude of issues to be addressed. 

I would also propose that teaching psychodynamics would also be very constructive. It would help young people understand the underlying processes that contribute to abuse, bullying and family issues. Development of understanding, knowledge and cultivation of resiliency would go further aiding in the fabrication of emotional scaffolding and support systems withing schools, to catch young people before they fall (to paraphrase the title of Christopher Bollas' book). 

Access to psychotherapists in schools for teens and children would create a culture of talking about and exploring vulnerabilities and personal problems. Reinstating and replenishing the amount of Guidance Counsellors would also be beneficial as would the integration of group process in schools where bullying is an issue. ASSIST training and supports for teachers could also be integrated. 

Yes an online course would be somewhat helpful but an integral, holistic and more experiential approach would be far more effective teaching young people to communicate and articulate their emotional needs and to express themselves. The earlier interventions are made the better! - 

Annie O'Brien

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