Whitehouse ISD Mental Health Initiative
Whitehouse ISD is fortunate to offer our students counseling services at no charge by hired Social Emotional Learning Counselors. Social emotional learning is the process through which all children, adolescents, and adults gain and apply the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to manage emotions, show empathy for others, develop healthy identities, establish and maintain supportive relationships, achieve personal and collective goals, and make responsible and caring decisions. Contact your child’s school counselor if you would like them to participate in receiving these services.
Whitehouse ISD partners with the Clinical Mental Health Masters Program at The University of Texas at Tyler. UT Tyler provides interns from the program to counsel students on every Whitehouse ISD campus. This initiative is to promote and support optimal mental health as well as build skills that enhance resiliency in children and youth to overcome challenges in life.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health includes our psychological, social, and emotional well-being. It has a direct impact on how we feel, think, and act. Whitehouse ISD is focused on the academic success of each student, while also addressing their mental health needs.
How common are mental illnesses?
According to the Center for Disease Control, mental health conditions are among the most common health conditions in the United States.
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More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.
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1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year.
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1 in 5 children, either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.
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1 in 25 Americans lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.
Resources for Parents:
Common mental health conditions in children and adolescents:
Click here for more information regarding common mental health conditions, topics, or concerns.
Mental Health Stigmas
There can be many stigmas related to mental health and seeking mental health treatment that get in the way of people finding ways to heal themselves. Stigma can make people more likely to hide symptoms or illness, keep them from seeking health care immediately, and prevent individuals from adopting healthy behaviors. Many of these stigmas are based in a fear of the view that others may have of the person experiencing mental health difficulty, potentially being viewed as someone who is ‘broken’ and ‘different’ than others. When in reality, more than 50% of people will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime, and 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year. Mental Health struggles are much more common that some may realize, yet because of stigmas many people suffer alone. When someone is suffering from a medical condition that impacts the body (such as a broken leg), there is no stigma about that person, there is a view that the person is recovering from an ailment and they are supported in that recovery. We apply this view to mental health matters, and work toward breaking the stereotypes and stigmas associated with receiving mental health treatment and healing. Below are a few common stigmas placed on mental health.
Self-stigma refers to negative attitudes of an individual to his/her own mental illness and is also referred to as internalized stigma. Self-stigma has been related to poor outcomes, such as failure to access treatment, disempowerment, reduced self-efficacy, and decreased quality of life.
Public stigma refers to negative attitudes towards those with mental illness held by the general public, often based on misconceptions, fear, and prejudice. Related to public stigma is perceived stigma which is defined as individual’s beliefs about the attitudes of others towards mental illness.
Institutional stigma refers to an organization’s policies or culture of negative attitudes and beliefs toward stigmatized individuals, such as those with mental health problems. Such stigma can also be reinforced by legal frameworks, public policy, and professional practices, thereby becoming deeply embedded in society.
Mental Health Resources
Mental Health plays a crucial role in our well-being. Multiple research has shown that there is a connection between the mind and body. Mind and Body connection is “The belief that the causes, development, and outcomes of a physical illness are determined from the interaction of psychological, social factors, and biological factors (The mind - body connection 2021).” In other words, the Mind and Body connection is the link between a person's thoughts, feelings, and behavior and their physical symptoms (Mind-body Connection 2019).”
Myths vs. Facts
Myth: Self-care is an indulgence
Fact: Meaningful self-care includes making mindful changes in patterns of thought and behaviors that do not contribute to your well-being.
Myth: Self-care is Selfish
Fact: When you make time for yourself and get sufficient sleep & exercise, you feel more energetic and will be able to do more-for yourself as well as others.
Myth: Self-care is a one-time experience
Fact: Looking after yourself is an ongoing process in building resilience to face hardships and preventing burnout.
Myth: Self-care is time consuming
Fact: Self-care does not require you to take out a huge amount of time from your day.
Mindfulness & Self-care
Mindfulness & Self-care is vital in dealing with and managing our mind and body connection.
Self-Care is the practice of taking action to improve or maintain one's own health, whether that be mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually (Baldwin, 2020). Self-care requires checking in with yourself and asking yourself how you’re really doing and what your body’s asking for (Baldwin, 2020). Some people use it to deal with difficult moments, others just to maintain their happiness day to day (2020). Self-care does not mean the same thing for everyone. Different people will adopt different self-care practices, and even your own definition might change over time (2020).
How do we practice self-care? Some ideas include: establish some control over your situation and get organized, change your attitude/mindset, eat nutritious foods, get support, get good sleep, and get into an exercise routine.
Click here for resources on mindfulness and self-care.
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