On average people spend ages 4 until 22 in school, this time gives students many opportunities to be influenced by their peers and teachers. Whether it is a good or bad teacher every single one has an impact on the student and helps to mould their future.

Nowadays mental illness is being talked about more and more, people are becoming more aware of it's existence. However, teachers are lacking in knowledge and training related to mental health. They don't always know the signs of a mental illness or what to do if they notice a student having a hard time. This is not necessarily the teacher's fault, mainly a lack of training.

Teachers are around students five days a week for years and with the mental illness rates and stress levels rising in schools it is more important now then ever before to have trained teachers. A teacher should know how to recognize and panic attack or what to do if they see scars on a student's arm. They need to know where to go for help in order to get the student the help he or she needs.

Teachers also need to know what to say when a student addresses them about their personal mental illness. Confiding in anyone is very difficult especially confiding to a person in a position of authority. I have been asked by multiple teachers "well why can't you just get over it?", "everyone has bad days" or my personal favourite "Can't you just try an be happy? Just don't be sad anymore" Like gee thanks guys I hadn't thought of that! Silly me I should just stop and be happy! Why am I spending hundreds of dollars on therapy, doctors and medication when my math teacher apparently has all the answers!?

Although it is not the teacher's fault that they have not been trained in what to do. Mental illness can be scary and hard to understand, even by the best of people. For many mental illness can hit close to home if someone they know has suffered. That is why I believe it is important to be open and honest about mental illness.

I have had experiences where if a teacher knew what to do when I went to her, it would have let me seek help sooner. If she had known who to tell or what to do when I confided in her I wouldn't have gone through nearly as much as I did. Teachers are around impressionable students, and it would be beneficial to everyone if they were trained in dealing with mental illness.

Even just a short mandatory course for all school staff would be better than what is in place now. Designating a counsellor to deal with metal health issues so staff and student can request support for themselves or someone else. A little quiet room for students to go in times of crisis to get away from the immediate trigger. Simple things like these can really help to create a much better learning environment for everyone. However it is still most important to start training the teachers on how to address mental illness. If a teacher can catch the illness in its early stages it is a lot easier to make a full and quick recovery.