Bill to create mental health training programs for educators heads to House

A measure to better equip educators to recognize and address the mental health needs of students has received Senate approval and will now be considered by the House. Senate Bill 446, by Sen. John Haste, would require the State Department of Education and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to develop educator training programs on student mental health.

The Broken Arrow Republican said he authored the bill because when he talks to teachers and asks them how the legislature can help them, they always say they need more funding in the classroom and help dealing with students’ mental health issues.

“Educators are facing more student mental health problems each year. Not being able to properly address these issues can negatively impact the child’s educational success and mental health moving forward as well as being a distraction to other students and causing the teacher undue stress when he or she feels helpless in assisting the student,” said Haste. “These training programs will be an additional resource for educators to help them properly address and help their students who are struggling with these types of issues, which will benefit everyone in the classroom.”

SB 446 has no fiscal impact.