Information for Educators

Young people spend most of their time during the day in school. It is critical that educators have access to information on healthy social and emotional development and emotional wellbeing as well as tools to help children with emotional disturbance and their families. We invite you to use the resources on this webpage along with those found at Information for Children, Teens and Their Families.

Resources

• Bipolar Disorder In Children: Why Are The Rates Rising?
  Recent media reports tell us that the diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents (formerly called manic depressive disorder) is forty times more frequent than it was just ten years ago.
• Child and Family Clinic Plus
  This innovative program will improve the emotional well-being of thousands upon thousands of children in New York State by providing early intervention and treatment, which in turn will help improve school performance, social relationships, and go a long way toward preventing long-term mental health problems.
• Children, Teens and their Families
  In New York State, we offer a range of services to help you to identify emotional health needs early and to provide any needed treatment or support.
• Children with Mental Disorders: Treatment of,
  Children are in a state of rapid change and growth during their developmental years. Diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders must be viewed with these changes in mind.
• Children’s Mental Health Plan
  Here you will find information and resources to enable you to be a part of crafting a new vision for children’s mental health in New York State.
• Clinical Advisories and Guidelines
  Recommendations supported by OMH, but which were prepared by the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Heart Association.
• Crisis Residence
  Recommendations supported by OMH, but which were prepared by the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Heart Association.
• Depression and its Treatment
  A four-minute video from the National Institute of Mental Health provides an overview on the symptoms of depression, the impact the illness can have on an individual and his or her loved ones, and its treatment.
• Home Based Crisis Intervention
  Home Based Crisis Intervention (HBCI) provides in-home crisis services to families (natural, foster, or adoptive) where a child is at imminent risk of psychiatric hospitalization.
• Pan Flu Resources Information For Children
• Preliminary Children's Mental Health Plan
  The Children’s Mental Health Act (CMHA) of 2006 charges the Office of Mental Health (OMH) with producing a preliminary plan by October 1, 2007,¹ that leads to the development of a final plan for a "comprehensive, coordinated children’s mental health system."
• Sesame Street Workshop, Parent's Guide to Helping Children Cope with Stress
  Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, and the New York State Office of Mental Health have partnered over the years to produce materials for children and their families to help them cope with whatever life might throw their way.
• Suicide Prevention
  Our mission is to reduce the number of suicides in New York State through the dissemination of scientific knowledge to promote awareness of the risks and warning signs of suicide as well as effective means of intervention.
• The Tragic Events at Virginia Tech:  Support for Children, Adolescents and Adults
  The New York State Office of Mental Health extends deepest sympathy to those individuals, families and communities affected by the recent violence at Virginia Tech.
• Violence Prevention: Creating Safer Schools in New York State
  New York State is responding to rising concerns about school violence with informative tools designed to help school personnel manage the problem.

Booklets

• Anxiety Disorders
  A booklet to help you identify the symptoms and causes of anxiety disorders. It will also explain how to obtain treatment and suggest ways to make such treatment more effective.
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  A variety of medications, behavior-changing therapies, and educational options are available to help people with ADHD focus their attention, build self-esteem, and function in new ways.
• Bipolar Disorder
  Bipolar disorder, also know at manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives.
• Depression
  Depressive illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have the disorder, but also to those who care about them. There are now medications and psychosocial therapies that ease the pain of depression.
• Eating Disorders
  Facts about eating disorders and the search for solutions.
• Grief Counseling Resource Guide
  A Field Manual. This manual has been developed as a guide for those who encounter individuals reacting to trauma related grief reactions in the course of their outreach work.
• Medications
  A booklet to help people with mental illness and their families understand how and why medications can be used as part of the treatment of mental health problems.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Information
  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a normal reaction to seriously disturbing events. This booklet examines the signs, symptoms and steps you can take to treat PTSD.
• Schizophrenia
  Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease. However, this is a time of hope for people with schizophrenia and their families. Research is gradually leading to new and safer medications and unraveling the complex causes of the disease.
• Treatment of Children with Mental Disorders
  Children are in a state of rapid change and growth during their developmental years. Diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders must be viewed with these changes in mind.