School is often considered to be a positive environment for students of all ages to learn, meet new friends, and aspire to become their best possible selves. However, students who suffer from mental health issues do not view school in such a "positive environment". Students who suffer from mental health problems such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health issues tend to fear going to school every morning. Students have this fear because school districts often do not consider mental health an issue that negatively affects their students. I know that mental health is a difficult problem with a complicated solution, but with the proper training, I hope as a teacher I am able to adequately help my students with any problem that negatively affects their educational experience. I think it is very important for all teachers to receive the proper training that educates teachers on how to deal with a student that has mental health problems. Once teachers are properly educated, those students who used tin be afraid of school will feel more welcomed and safe.
Each student in our class had to choose one specific mental disorder to research and learn about. Although I feel that every topic we research in class is important, mental health, I personally feel, is 10 times more important. I feel that mental health is so important for our class to research in-depth because as future educators we should be experts on mental health. By giving teachers the proper knowledge on mental health, helps balance out the comfortable environment students feel while in the classroom. It should be the teacher's number one priority to create an environment in his or her classroom that is so welcoming, students feel safe and comfortable. I choose a mental health disorder that is not very "mainstream" or widely discussed. I chose to research DID, Dissociative Identity Disorder. Dissociative Identity Disorder, formally known as multiple personality disorder, is a psychological state that is characterized by a disconnect between a person’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Since DID is not as widely talked about as other mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, many teachers do not know how to properly handle a student that struggles with DID. A teacher can tell if a student struggles with DID if one, their parent informs the teacher up front, or two the student begins to show symptoms and signs of DID. Signs of DID for a young child can be Spacing out/frequent daydreaming, Dramatic changes in preferences (such as food, clothes, or games), Amnesia periods/memory loss, unprovoked rages and violent behavior, Imaginary friend. Some of the symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder can be viewed simply as a student who is "disrespectful". Knowing the difference between a "disrespectful student" and a student who is suffering from DID is very important. This is so vastly important because the teacher needs to restructure her reaction to the actions of the student. If a teacher mistakes a student suffering from DID as just a child who "isn't paying attention" or is "acting out of line" this could further hurt that student's educational experience. Some ways that teachers can help provide a safe learning environment for students suffering from DID is Encouraging the child to utilize more appropriate ways to express difficult feelings such as, having the student scribble or draw, putting feelings into words in a journal, or letting the student go for a run in the gym that safely discharges intense feelings.
4 Facts About Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)." 4 Facts About Dissociative
Identity Disorder (DID), 31 Aug. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLOJg2VC76E.
The Recovery Village. "Dissociative Identity Disorder Facts and Statistics."
Edited by Camille Renzoni. The Recovery Village, www.therecoveryvillage.com/
mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder/related/
dissociative-identity-disorder-statistics/. Accessed 17 Sept. 2020.
Physchology Today. 23 Dec. 2013, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/
talking-about-trauma/201312/
understanding-dissociative-identity-disorder-in-children.
The International Society for the Study of Trauma & Dissociation. www.isst-d.org/
resources/faqs-for-teachers/. Accessed 2021.
Image: Cutts, Steve. multiple personalities. 2014.
Hey Olivia, I like how you highlighted how students with mental health issues view school in a different, less positive way than most students. It was great that you chose to do DID, since information on this disorder is not as common as disorders like anxiety. I found your slide very informative and I like the image you chose. Your information on how teachers can help students struggling with DID was useful and tips like allowing students the freedom to see counselors when they see fit is good tip for all mental health cases. Thank you for sharing information on dissociative identity disorder!
ReplyDelete