I have seen how mental health can escalate in ways that cause harm.

 But what are we doing to help?

When it comes to Bullying, Harassment, Physical Altercations, a student's "Misbehavior", our first thought is to control the situation, with no knowledge or interest on why it's happening.

In the New Britain School District, some teachers are being trained to "de-escalate" these situations by physical force. The Board of Education is Investing thousands of dollars in CPI training programs that only work if we wait. One that places teachers in uncomfortable positions and almost always with no positive outcome. 

To jump to the point, I ask that we invest that money into a mental health training program that will teach teachers how to recognize the signs of mental distress before it becomes a later issue. Recognizing the root of the "problem" so the best route of support may be found.

To not to wait until things escalate, but instead help a student who is in need of your support now.

We spend almost 7-8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 180 days a school year with our classroom teachers, so shouldn't we feel comfortable around them too? 

I have personally felt the effects of both a teacher who neglects a student's mental health and one who is aware that we too have emotions. My first 3 years of high school I didn't feel seen by most of my teachers. I would skip class because I didn't feel comfortable with them, I wouldn't participate much because I felt judged. Then I met teachers and staff members who truly showed me that they cared. They listened to me and made me feel as if my mistakes weren't going to destroy my life, but instead help me grow. Now, I am a suicide survivor and high school graduate. 

 We experience traumas and pains that can hinder our learning and not every student is comfortable with asking for help from a mental health professional. But we shouldn't get blamed and punished when we can't focus on a task or work as well as a teacher would like us to. 

Yes, our mental health is not a teacher's responsibility to handle, but when the signs of struggle are there, it is hard to ignore. Yet, there are many who do. 

All I ask is that you take the extra efforts to train teachers to see these signs so that they can help students get the help they need.

To provide a voice to students when they feel they don't have one.

Don't label our pains with "misbehavior", we too are human and deserve a chance to prove it to ourselves. Sometimes we just don't know where to start, so help guide us.

Let's become the example that we can overcome these obstacles together. That a student is more than just a student, and they deserve to be shown that they are welcome.

They are more than just a "problem" waiting to happen.

Show us that we belong and are worthy of an education no matter what our background carries.