Mental Health

According to the National Institue of Mental Health, 1 in 5 U.S. adults lives with a mental health disorder. It is well past due that our communities stomp out the stigma around mental health.

According to the CDC, half of chronic mental health conditions begin by the age of 14. This paper from the American Journal of Public Health clearly demonstrates that through mental health promotion education, individuals are shown a more accurate representation of the human experience. Mental health promotion reduces the stigma associated with mental illness, and sparks a dialogue about mental health as something that everyone has.

Through this education, students are able to identify where they can promote their own mental health and seek possible treatment options in their communities if they need it. These interventions at the individual and community can ultimately improve positive mental health outcomes.

Our Approach

TGP’s Mental Health Promotion curriculum for 8th-grade students focuses on the mental wellbeing of everyone, seeking to improve mental health literacy, destigmatize mental health, and increase adolescents’ access to mental health services.

The main topics we cover in our Mental Health curriculum are:

• The importance of mental health promotion
• Mental health stigma
• Emotional identification and regulation
• Stress identification
• Stress management & coping mechanisms
• Interpersonal skills & healthy relationships
• Gender and sexual identity
• Assertive communication training
• Problem-solving and conflict Resolution
• Mindfulness
• Goal-setting for the future

Our Impact

Students’ pre-program and post-program surveys in 2019 showed that participation in TGP’s mental health promotion program significantly increased students’ mental health literacy.

“I like how they explain how to deal with mental health in a positive way, and how different things can affect your mental health.”

-8th-grade student, Center City Public Charter School – Brightwood Campus