The issue of mental well-being is integral to students’ general well-being, academic performance and development. However, during their adolescence, students experience significant stress related to academics and emotional distress associated with changing relations and life situations. Still, students do not always know how to detect mental health problems, how to use coping mechanisms effectively, how to help their peers dealing with mental issues and where they can seek help.

The problem of educating students in terms of mental well-being is recognized for long time already. The Texas Education Agency notes that roughly one out of six school-age children is impaired in their functioning, including academic performance, because of mental disorders. TEA also highlights the role of schools in early detection of mental problems among students. Nationwide, NAMI states that more than one out of seven young people aged 6–17 years suffers from mental illness each year.

There are several steps that have been made in Texas regarding the mental health of students. The current legislation of Texas includes mental health education in coordinated school health programs which cover mental health conditions, emotional well-being, emotional management, positive relationships, and making healthy decisions. Also, there are Texas Health Education TEKS which cover some standards related to mental health and wellness such as emotional regulation, relationships, stress, and help-seeking.

Nevertheless, the access and depth of mental health education may differ. Thus, Texas can benefit from using the current framework and creating clear expectations related to mental health literacy for different ages and provide the necessary tools to make it possible for schools.

Our request to the policy-makers in Texas is to enhance mental health education in middle and high schools and provide students with information that will be developmentally appropriate and covers such aspects as understanding mental health issues, emotional regulation and coping skills, stress management, stigma reduction, positive relationships, suicide prevention, warning signs of suicide, seeking help, and resources for mental health assistance.

It does not involve schools diagnosing or treating students’ problems. It involves providing students with practical mental health literacy, which means the understanding of mental health issues and the means by which a person can seek help if it becomes necessary.

Texas has an existing base to work with in addressing this issue. Developing and properly implementing mental health education will enable students in Texas to acquire basic information regarding their mental and emotional wellness.

We urge Texas education policymakers, state lawmakers, the Texas State Board of Education, and individual school districts to develop age-appropriate mental health education in Texas public schools and equip teachers with appropriate educational materials and training.