Senator Kristin Corrado’s legislation to require New Jersey school districts to incorporate mental health education into the curriculum has passed the Senate Education Committee.

“So many students struggle with overwhelming stress and anxiety, yet there is a terrible stigma associated with mental illness,” said Corrado. “As the saying goes, there is no health without mental health. Providing our children with mental health literacy education will empower them to recognize warning signs in themselves or classmates, so they know when and where to get help. This legislation has the power to break the stigma for generations to come.”

Corrado’s bipartisan bill, S-2861, would require New Jersey elementary, middle, and high schools to incorporate mental health instruction as part of their health education curriculum.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, 50 percent of mental illness conditions begin by age fourteen.

The State of New York recently became the first state to mandate mental health education in all elementary, middle, and high schools.

“A student’s mental health is just as significant as their physical health and wellbeing,” Corrado added. “Addressing mental health in a comprehensive manner will help younger New Jerseyans identify and understand the warning signs. Like other diseases, early detection leads to better outcomes. This legislation can and will save lives.”