I can remember having health classes in middle and high school and pretty much all they focused on was sex and heart attacks. The pace at which things were covered and what what emphasized could have been changed to easily accommodate a week or even two week long class discussing mental health. It has been a while since I was in school, so maybe they finally are doing this in places - definitely not where my brothers kids go. 

Why not talk about:
- how to handle stress to avoid chronic anxiety
- promoting counseling as well as medicine when needed
- a basic overview of what the top five or so mental illnesses are like and how to treat them

I’m not talking about screening kids, but rather reminding them there are solutions that are so much better than self harm or ignoring the problem. I can honestly say I didn’t understand what bipolar is until months after my first manic episode - but the warning signs where there for years. 

Zero mental health education in my upbringing, I hope yours is better.