Edinburg, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Over 100 educators attended a mental health conference in Edinburg to learn how they can manage their mental health and, in turn, take care of their students .
“In education, because we know how to teach. We know how to treat children and build relationships, but sometimes we don’t care about ourselves.” said GearUp Director Chris McKinney.
In response to the growing awareness of mental health in the classroom, “The Gear Up: Pathways to the Future Project” offers educators a variety of ways to address the mental health concerns of their students.
“The purpose of today’s event is to encourage teachers and educators to practice self-care,” McKinney said.
Participants explored student socialization and behavior, self-care, and self-reflection after the pandemic.
Mental health expert Yvonne Salinas encourages teachers to communicate with each other.
“My advice to teachers is to create a group in your community and make sure you have a community of other educators that you can relate to and communicate with. Face it,” Salinas said. Said.
Techniques and interventions to improve social-emotional resilience were also shared.
“If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for help. The resources are out there. It’s just a matter of figuring out what those resources are, just setting boundaries,” she said. I got
Educators from across the Valley attended the conference. Region One hopes to apply what they have learned in the classroom.
