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School Wellness Weekly
May 23, 2024
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month! |
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For Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re sharing a collection of recommended tips and online resources for educators, families, and caregivers. Research shows that young people experiencing poor mental health are at increased risk of absenteeism, risky sexual behavior, and substance use.1 But New Yorkers don’t need an awareness month to know that mental health challenges—whether everyday ups and downs or chronic stress, anxiety, and trauma—are present for many of our citizens, including students and young people.
The good news is that, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes, schools can play a key role in promoting student mental health and well-being through education, prevention, and referrals to services to help them.2 One of the most important tools we have is Health Education.
In Health Education class, students learn what mental health is and the impact it can have on their minds, bodies, and relationships. In New York State, schools are required to include mental health lessons as part of Health Education. Teachers and school staff can also be an important bridge to mental health services in the school or community.
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School leaders and Health teachers, what can you do?
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Plan now to program all students for Health Education in 2024-2025. For support and questions, contact your Office of School Wellness Programs borough team (opens in new tab).
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Register for professional learning sessions at our June 6 conference (opens in new tab) to learn more about mental health and social-emotional learning (see more below).
- A presentation by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- Depression education and suicide prevention
- Relationship Health for the Next Generation
- Social-emotional well-being with Child Mind Institute
- …and more!
Parents, caregivers, and students, get free professional support:
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Need immediate help? NYC 988 (opens in new tab) offers free, 24/7, confidential mental health and substance use support in more than 200 languages. Speak to a counselor via phone, text, or chat to access services.
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Teens can get free help online from licensed therapists: NYC Teenspace (opens in new tab) is a free mental health support program available to any teenager aged 13-17 living in New York City, offered by the NYC Department of Health. Teens can sign up to be connected to a licensed therapist.
Access more mental health information below in the Health Education section!
1, 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders. December 2023.
Photo: by Krisanne Johnson
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Registration Is Now Open for Chancellor’s Conference Day, Thursday, June 6
Join the Office of School Wellness Programs on June 6 for a full day of live, interactive webinar sessions on Physical Education, Health Education, physical activity, social-emotional learning, and school wellness. Attendees will connect with other NYCPS educators during webinars presented by content area specialists and partner organizations.
Register and find descriptions and CTLE information on the Chancellor's Conference Day page! (Register with DOE email.)
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NYCPS teachers can register for webinars on numerous topics including vaping prevention, culturally responsive teaching, Netball, Promoting Social Emotional Well-being, Coaching 101, Soccer for Success, Relationship Health for the Next Generation, and many more!
Sessions are first-come, first-served, and space is limited—so be sure to secure your spot for up to three sessions as soon as possible.
- Session 1: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
- Session 2: 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Session 3: 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Image: Office of School Wellness Programs
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Continue your Professional Learning on June 7, Clerical Day!
Health Education: K-8 Health Education Teachers:
Physical Education: K-12 Physical Education Teachers:
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Reminder to School Leaders and Health Teachers: Complete HIV Lessons by May 31
Per New York State law, HIV lessons must be administered annually to all students in grades K-12. Students in grades K-6 must receive five lessons per year, while students in grades 7-12 must receive six lessons per year. HIV Lessons must be completed and reported in STARS by Friday, May 31.
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More Mental Health Resources from Trusted Partners
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Recursos en español:
Educators: Tools to Address Teacher Stress, Burnout, and Emotional Health
Not feeling “fine”? You’re #NotAlone. Public school teachers cope daily with the effects of staff shortages, increased workload, and supporting students and loved ones – and many educators lack adequate mental health support. To get help, explore videos and other tools from the How Right Now teacher campaign (opens in new tab), a partnership between the CDC Foundation, Action for Healthy Kids, and other national organizations. Share with your networks.
Photo: Poster at P.S./M.S. 5, Bronx, by Office of School Wellness Programs
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Building the Wellness Community |
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Students Ages 13-18: Apply for Paid Youth Advisor Positions with Peer Health Exchange
Teens build leadership and professional development skills, practice health advocacy, and join a national network of young people creating meaningful social change. Youth who identify as BIPOC, Latinx, and/or LGBTQ+ are particularly encouraged to apply.
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Rising High School Seniors: 2024-2025 Internship with Community Food Advocates
Community Food Advocates (opens in new tab) is accepting applications for the 2024-2025 cohort of Food Youth Advocates, a 10-month internship program for high school seniors who are interested in systemic change in New York City food systems, with a focus on school food.
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May is Bike Month—And So Is June! Free Outdoor Cycling Classes, Bike Advocacy, and Cultural Programming
Cycling is an excellent way to get more physical activity, and New York City has an all-time high number of protected bike lanes that make for safer cycling. Check out upcoming biking and open-streets events (opens in new tab) from the NYC Department of Transporation -- many offer free learn-to-ride and bike handling skills classes with Bike New York, free bike repairs, and cultural programming. Get maps, hemet-fitting tips and other information on the Bike Safety page (opens in new tab).
Photo: Courtesy Community Food Advocates
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K-12 Educators: Immerse Yourself in Food Education! Professional Learning Opportunities
The NYCPS Office of Food and Climate Education offers a wide selection of free, online and in-person opportunities to help teachers across all grades and subjects incorporate food and nutrition topics into their classes.
Give Back to Your Community in the Garden! Volunteer Opportunities for Students Ages 15+
Join Concrete Safaris (opens in new tab) for a Garden Volunteer Session. Help with garden maintenance activities, including spreading wood chips, shoveling compost, removing weeds, raking, trash removal, and more.
Volunteers can be 15+ with an adult, and 18+ without one. Find specific dates and more information on the Volunteer Page (opens in new tab) and scroll down to “Garden Volunteer Opportunities”. Questions? Contact (646) 869-1503.
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Digging In: Immersive Food and Farm Tour for Educators, July 31-August 1
Educators, deepen your understanding of food production—by bus! New York Agriculture in the Classroom (opens in new tab) offers educators free, 2-day guided tours of the farms that feed New York City, as well as interactive discussion and hands-on activities to explore the food journey from field to the tables of NYC teachers and students.
Photos: Kirsten Luce
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