It has been reported that one in five children suffer mental health disorders in the U.S. The mental disorders may range from ADHD to suicidal tendencies. Most schools do not have well trained or sufficient staff to identify these problems and to work them out. Here is what should be the ideal way to deal with promoting students’ mental growth in a healthy manner. Among many models, the multi-tiered system of supports which is like an inverted pyramid is of significance. The funnel like model offers support for everyone in general and then moves towards specialized and specific help to suit individual requirement.
The village model is a collective mission to create an environment that focuses on general well being to promote mental health. Amanda Aiken, Senior Director of Schools at New Orleans College Prep was a principal at one of their schools. As Principal she ensured that when the students arrived, staff would always be present at the entrances to greet them by shaking hands. At times, handshakes were even replaced by hugs. Luckily this practice was continued as a tradition by her successor. The students at this school are from a more challenging background and stand a higher risk of health problems. The children have suffered unpleasant neighborhoods, family problems and poverty.
A trauma informed school is one where all staff is trained to work with and identify students going through traumatic experiences. They follow a social emotional curriculum which includes yoga sessions after school that aims at lowering detentions through restorative justice. Schools have realized the limitations of teachers in this aspect. They may be able to identify traumatized students, but at a certain level will require professionals to deal with the students. Often schools hire a certified student counselor who is experienced and most suited to the role. They are also in a position to interact with students and to recommend clinical therapy if necessary.
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A Syrian film collective is producing short films to showcase the human side of war victims. The short films are now part of a gallery in New York. Any evidence or insight that the world has had about the civil wars in Syria has been through images and snippets of extreme violence and the fleeing of refugees to Europe. The Syrian film collective is attempting to show what lies on the inside. The group behind this effort, Abounaddara has been recognized and awarded for their work of more than 300 short documentaries that are an eye opener.
In English Abounaddara translates to “a man with glasses”. Each video is only 1 to 6 minutes long and tries to tell hidden stories of the war. The videos incorporate mystery to prick and prod at people conscience to raise their voices and concern for the victims of war. The stories are not biased by religion, labels or any kind of judgment, they are purely human stories that the media does not cover. The media has desensitized the view with an overload of violent images and people are left to think that it is the way of life in Syria. It would mean a lot more if it happened with one’s own kind.
New Jersey governor Chris Christie has reason to be cheerful having been successful with the endorsement of the New Hampshire Union Leader. It has been a notable achievement along with his performance at the GOP debate which went well for him. Christie was well commended by the Union Leader publisher Joe McQuaid as being the right person for the present dangerous times and recognized as having dealt with terrorists admirably. As much as his conduct, he has been appreciated more for his speaking directly and bluntly.
In the past 5 decades, Union Leader has endorsed only four New Hampshire primary winners. In 1968 it was Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan in 1980, Pat Buchanan in 1996 and John McCain in 2008. Among these nominees only Nixon, Reagan and McCain made it to win the Republican nomination and among them only Nixon and Reagan won their quest for presidency. This goes to say that the Union Leader has not made a president in the past 35 years. Union Leader’s choice has faded away, in the year 2000 Steve Forbes came second to George W. Bush in Iowa and stood a third in New Hampshire. He withdrew in a few days. In 2012 even Gingrich could not make it very far.