Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, filed two bills to provide mental health resources and training for students and educators.
House Bill 1568 would add mental health instruction to health education curriculum. Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, the State Board of Education would collaborate with the Oklahoma Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) to adopt standards and approve age-appropriate curriculum options for students in grades kindergarten through 12.
Boatman said the training would help students develop an understanding of mental health issues and how they impact the overall wellbeing of themselves and their peers. He hopes the training would increase understanding and help remove some of the stigma surrounding mental health care.
House Bill 1886 would require mental health training for educators beginning in the 2022-2023 school year for all certified teachers, administrators and support staff who interact with students. These employees would be required to complete at least eight hours of mental health training in their first year of employment, and at least five hours of additional training every three years following. Training hours would follow employees if he or she moves to another school district.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted the mental health of many Oklahomans, but especially our students, many of whom have missed a significant amount of time in the classroom and with their peers,” Boatman said. “The impact of the pandemic and months of isolation on our children’s mental health is something that will not be fully realized for years.”
“Teachers, who spend hours with our students every day, are our front line in spotting potential mental health issues,” Boatman continued. “However, in order to effectively recognize when a student is struggling with their mental health, our educators must have the tools and training to help our students receive the help they need.”
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