Trone, Thompson House Resolution Designates May 23-27 as Educator Mental Health Awareness Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2022
Contact: Sasha Galbreath, Sasha.Galbreath@mail.house.gov
Trone, Thompson House Resolution Designates May 23-27 as Educator Mental Health Awareness Week
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressmen David Trone (D-MD) and Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) led a group of their colleagues in introducing a House resolution designating the week of May 23 to 27, 2022, as Educator Mental Health Awareness Week.
Over the course of the pandemic, 27% of teachers reported symptoms consistent with clinical depression, 37% reported symptoms consistent with anxiety disorder, and 19% reported increased use of substances to cope with stress. Teachers are almost twice as likely to experience frequent job-related stress and nearly three times as likely to experience symptoms of depression than the general adult population.
On top of expectations for teachers to meet the diverse academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs of their students, our educators had their routines uprooted by the pandemic, driving anxiety and uncertainty. Teachers are asking for more mental health training and resources, and they deserve it.
“During the pandemic, our educators bore the brunt of the strain on our education system. Educator mental health is overlooked far too often, and it’s critical that we change that,” said Congressman Trone. “Moving forward, we have to work together to ensure our educators are listened to and cared for. This week, and every week, shining a light on their mental wellness will not only benefit our educators of today, but also benefit their students, our leaders of tomorrow.”
“Our teachers encourage, support, and inspire their students, over the course of the pandemic they faced unique challenges,” Congressman Thompson said. “Teaching is a rewarding profession but also a stressful one. Teacher wellness is linked to the success of our students. We must ensure they have the resources necessary to foster a strong learning environment.”
Full text of the resolution is available here.
The resolution is co-sponsored by: Reps. Betty McCollum (D-MN), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Alma Adams (D-NC), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Susie Lee (D-NV), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Danny Davis (D-IL), Adam Smith (D-WA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), David Cicilline (D-RI), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Grace Meng (D-NY), Judy Chu (D-CA), Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), and Seth Moulton (D-MA).
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the mental health and addiction crises, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
Follow Congressman Trone at @RepDavidTrone for updates on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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