FREE PROGRAM TEACHES TEENS HOW TO COPE WITH STRESS AND AIMS TO REDUCE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS

Every three years Methodist Healthcare develops our Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) based on the needs we see in our community. One of the five priorities listed in our current CHIP is Behavioral and Mental Well-Being. Health is about more than the physical body. Mental health is related to how people think, feel and act as they cope with life, how they manage stress, relate to others and make choices.

Today’s teens face pressures that past generations never experienced. Research shows that 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses develop by age 14, and 75% are developed by age 24. When it comes to adolescents, 1 out of 3 have an anxiety disorder, and they are most likely to turn to peers when faced with stress or emotional challenges. Students must be better equipped with the coping, communication and self-assessment skills they need to proactively advocate for their own mental health and the mental health of their peers. Mental Wellness Basics is an innovative digital course that arms students with the knowledge and tools to achieve and maintain positive mental health now and in the future.

Methodist Healthcare has partnered with HCA to offer a Mental Wellness Basics curriculum at no cost to schools and students across San Antonio and Atascosa County. The program is administered by EVERFI, an international technology company driving social change through education, has already reached over 390,000 students since it started in 2018. The program includes four courses that are geared towards grades 8-10 and highlight the following areas: • Reduce stigma: By normalizing mental health and illness, individuals are more likely to tell others when they have concerns and are more likely to seek treatment. • Increase knowledge and awareness:

Learners are equipped with up-to-date facts on mental health disorders, symptoms and treatments.

• Encourage action: Establishing effective coping strategies. • Empower students to be advocates: Seeking help from others and supporting friends in need.

Is there a middle school or high school child in your life that you would like to have access to this program that is offered for free by your employer? Email us at MethodistCommunications@ MHSHealth.com so we can reach out to get their school signed up.