Pros and Cons of the Mental Health Act

Hello and welcome back to my blog on the Mental Heath Awareness and Improvement Act of 2013! In this post I will be discussing the pros and cons of the bill.  As is the case with any bill or law, this act comes with both advantages and disadvantages.

The major pros of this bill will really have a positive effect on mental health awareness I. Our education system today.  This bill allows for schools to use school improvement funds in order to mental health awareness intervention or intervening services.  By doing so, students will be better educated on this topic and they will be able to recognize whether themselves or others may be in need of some mental health assistance.  They will also learn how to treat others who find themselves in these situations.  Educating the student body is the first step in improving school life for children with mental illnesses.  Not only will this bill create programs to educate the students, but it also strives to educate the faculty and staff.  All school personnel will be educated on the mental health awareness of their students.  They will be taught how to teach, treat, support, and identify any students that have or may have a mental illness.  They will have a better, more in-depth understanding of the needs of these students and the ways that they can help and guide them.  Some smaller, additional pros of this bill include the changing of the terms "substance abuse" to "substance use disorder" and "mental illness" to "mental health".  All of these advantages combined will create a much healthier, supportive learning environment for students with mental handicaps, and it will provide them with the proper attention and assistance they need.

There really are only a few cons to this bill, and they are minor.  Regarding school funding, schools will lose some of their funding money that they now will have to put towards the interventions and mental health services that the bill requires.  In addition, these services  and programs may take time out of the education of the students and faculty.  However, I don't truly see these factors as a disadvantage because, in the long run, they will benefit everyone.  By examining these advantages and disadvantages of the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act of 2013, I hope you as the reader can see just how important and beneficial this bill truly is! 

                 

Sources:

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s689#summary/libraryofcongress