World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 as an international day to raise awareness of mental health issues globally and organize efforts in support of mental health. The theme for World Mental Health Day 2021 is “mental health care for all: let’s make it a reality.” 
World Health Organization (WHO) explains in detail the effects of mental health internationally. WHO is working to improve the mental health of individuals and society through the promotion of mental health, the prevention of mental disorders, the protection of human rights, and the care of people affected by mental disorders. There are 10 facts noted by WHO that demonstrates the impact of mental health globally. 

1. Mental, neurological, and substance use disorders make up 10% of the global burden of disease and 30% of non-fatal diseases (WHO, 2019).
2. Approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents globally have a mental disorder (WHO, 2019).
3. Depression is a common mental disorder that is estimated to affect 5% of the world’s adults (WHO, 2019).  
4. About half of mental disorders begin before the age of 14 (WHO, 2019). 
5. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in individuals from the age of 15-29. Almost 800,000 people die by suicide every year; 1 person dies from suicide every 40 seconds (WHO, 2019). 
6. Approximately 1 in 9 people in settings affected by conflict have a moderate or severe mental disorder (WHO, 2019).
7. In comparison with the general population, those suffering from severe mental disorders die 10 to 20 years earlier (WHO, 2019). 
8. Rates of mental health workers vary from less than 2 per 100,000 populations in low-income countries to more than 70 per 100,000 in high-income countries (WHO, 2019).
9. Less than half of the 139 countries that have mental health policies and plans report having these aligned with human rights conventions (WHO, 2019).
10. The global economy loses about $1 trillion per year in productivity due to depression and anxiety (WHO, 2019). 

At ACE, we are dedicated to Social Emotional Learning which has been proven to decrease the number and lessen the severity of mental health disorders. When you know how to identify emotions, manage emotions, and communicate about your mental health, you're more likely to reach out for help. Our work is deeply rooted in mental health, so we want to make sure that everyone has the skills they need to be able to cope and handle life's stressors. 

Mental Health Resources:
CDC: People Seeking Help
National Institute of Mental Health: Help for Mental Illnesses
6 Facts Parents Should Know about Mental Illness in Teens
31 Tips to Boost Your Mental Health
Self-Care: 12 Ways to Take Better Care of Yourself
Teachers: Protecting Your Mental Health
12 Resources to Help You Address Mental Health in Schools
The Trevor Project: For Young LGBTQ Lives
Birmingham Local Mental Health Resources

The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. 
Research shows that nonviolent resistance works better than violence. 
“Countries in which there were nonviolent campaigns were about 10 times likelier to transition to democracies within a five-year period compared to countries in which there were violent campaigns — whether the campaigns succeeded or failed.” - Erica Chenoweth.

Our goal in Social and Emotional Learning programming is to give people the skills to be able to resolve conflicts with nonviolent strategies. Everyone encounters conflict almost daily, with friends, family, strangers, co-workers, and others. Below you'll find tips to be able to hone your conflict resolution skills and give those skills to your students or children.

To choose the best conflict resolution method in any given situation, you need to consider several factors, such as:

• How important your desires are.
• The impact on you or others if your desires are not served.
• The consequences of choosing to be more assertive.
• Whether a collaborative or cooperative solution exists.

Being able to choose and apply the best conflict resolution strategy effectively is made possible by developing better conflict resolution skills. Examples of conflict resolution skills that can help you include the ability to:

• Listen effectively.
• Identify specific points of disagreement.
• Express your own needs clearly.
• View conflict as an opportunity for growth.
• Focus on specific issues without generalizing or escalating the situation.

• Nonviolent Communications and Conflict Resolutions 
• Basics of Nonviolent Communication
• Trying Out Nonviolent Communication with Kids: An Experiment
• Nonviolent Communication Resources for Kids and for Working with Kids
• Nonviolent Communication: How to Get Your Point Across - Ted Talk

International Day of Peace is a global celebration recognized on September 21 as a time for all mankind to commit to peace and contribute to a culture of peace. Peace is best defined as tranquility or freedom for disturbance. The theme of this celebration for 2021 is “Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World.” 

Ways schools can create a peaceful classroom environment

• Model kindness and empathy
• Repair, don’t punish
• Create a democratic space
• Use experiential learning
• Give a voice to the excluded
• Encourage collaboration
• Discuss controversial topics
• Integrate service planning

Ways to promote peace

• Visit museums and cultural centers
• Post on social media about peace
• Listen with the intent to understand
• Be helpful to others
• Meditate and invite others to meditate
• Learn a new language
• Volunteer at a homeless shelter
• Community involvement

We're excited to announce that we're a participating organization in Youth & Peace in Action sponsored by NewGen Peacebuilders which was kicked off today in celebration of International Day of Peace!
Here are resources about youth and peace initiatives:

• Youth Has a Key Role in Peace Processes
• What is Peace?

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among adolescents that have the potential to cause serious, lasting problems. There are three main types of bullying that are common among school-aged children such as verbal, social, and physical bullying. This behavior can happen at school, after school, off school grounds, and on social media. An important goal to achieve in respect of bullying should be to always have a safe space for bullied children to speak about their issues. Lines of communication should always remain open for school-aged children. When discussing bullying with students, there should be an importance placed on the complete understanding of bullying and its long-lasting effects. 
This discussion about bullying prevention named How To Talk About Bullying So Teens Will Listen demonstrates a great way to implement the importance of being an advocate when witnessing the act of bullying. 

Additional Resources:
What Teens Can Do
How to Talk About Bullying
What is Bullying 
Tips for Discussing Bullying with Teens

ACE's Heritage Panel addresses bullying and discrimination in schools through interactive discussions with students on how to create change and be an ally in their school. ACE's first Heritage Panel of the year was with John Carroll Catholic High School. Click here to read their school newspaper's article about the program.

In America, mental health is vital that all aspects of mental health systems be transparent of the diverse communities that they serve. Mental health businesses strive to become and remain cultural competent to our communities. A cultural system includes skillsets, attitudes, rules and policies to ensure that it is helpful in addressing the needs of people and their families with diverse values, beliefs, and sexual orientations. It's also important to include backgrounds that vary by race, ethnicity, religion, and language.

The different worldly and cultural challenges to service in urban America displays the effectiveness of current models of this practice. Urban behavioral health needs remains the same due to lack of available staff, competent providers, social society, fear of lack of privacy, lack of financing and reimbursement issues due to lack of funding and insurance, lack of mental substance with physical health, no efforts of prevention, transportation difficulties, and low numbers in providers. 

Below are a few resources to learn more about this matter. 

• Position Statement: Cultural and Linguistic Competency
• Position Statement: Access to Healthcare
• Mental Health America Multi-State Initiative pdf

SEL is defined as “how children and adults learn to understand and manage emotions, set goals, show empathy for others, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions."

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework identifies five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

As more attention is paid to "educating the whole child," SEL practices have been embedded in a growing number of classrooms across the country. Educators are aware that these skills play a critical role in determining how well-equipped children will be to meet the demands of the classroom.

The research is clear that SEL is key to successful student performance, especially in preschool and elementary school.

For example: Lindsey Jensen, however, is frustrated by what she sees as a main focus on academics. Over the past month, Jensen, a high school teacher in Chicago has participated in countless zoom meetings with colleagues and school leaders. The topic of emotional and trauma support for students has barely registered. SEL needs to be a more prominent focus in our school systems. These skills will prepare our children for the world and everyday life. 

There are simple ways to integrate Social and Emotional Learning into your classroom and school. It's important to note that each student has different needs and considerations when it comes to SEL and academics, so they might not need a 'one size fits all' curriculum. Integrating SEL into academics is a guaranteed way to do both things at once, saving you time and money. Below are tactics from the Aspen Institute's National Commission on Social Emotional, and Academic Development. [From a Nation at Risk to a Nation at Hope] & Berkeley.

1. Build Adult Expertise: The more SEL skills your teachers and staff have, the better the students will learn from them.

• Mindful Breathing.
• Active Listening.
• Feeling Supported.
• Best Possible Self.
• Incorporate the 3 SEL Signature Practices into your staff meetings.

2. Transform learning settings so they are safe and supportive for all young people.

• ​Learn about your own implicit biases and assumptions about the kids in your schools and classrooms.
• End punitive and disciplinary strategies and try using restorative practices.
• Making that teacher-student relationship into a strong and authentic bond.

3. Embed these skills in academics and schoolwide practices. 

• Teach empathy with literature
• Using cooperative learning in math
• SEL in science class
• SEL in social studies

School is finally in session from a long year of virtual learning. Students may have gotten comfortable with not interacting with other students and their peers, so in case of conflict in your classroom, we'd like to equip our teachers with social and emotional learning resources. No matter what the dispute is over, educators should know that conflict is not abnormal inside or outside the classroom. 

Helping students resolve conflicts with their peers is an important asset to the classroom atmosphere. Teachers shouldn't solve the problem for the students, but should rather resolve allow students to resolve their own problems to prevent lateral damage to their conflict-resolution and problem-solving skills. 

Developing these skills in children as early as possible is vital to their interpersonal success. 
As quoted from, Carolyn Coffey, a preschool teacher at Educare New Orleans, 
​“We’re teaching them the right way to respond to conflicts, to use self-control and calm themselves,” she says. “If we wait until they get to fourth grade or even middle school, they’ve already learned in practice what they’re going to do in order to resolve something… and it might not be the best way.”

To learn more about how conflict should be handled in the classroom, visit a few of our resources below.

Teach Kids How to Manage Conflict
Easing Kids into the Classroom