Mental Health Awareness: SBAE Teachers Perspectives

This study examines School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) teachers' perspectives on mental health (MH) awareness, resources, and motivations for MH training. Focus group discussions revealed four themes: help-seeking, support services, classroom culture, and child/adolescent behavior. While teachers recognize the importance of addressing MH needs, barriers such as limited resources and time hinder their efforts. Mentorship and advisement were identified as effective strategies for MH support. The findings highlight the need for more explicit protocols and consistent professional development. The study suggests that SBAE teachers require more training and resources to support students’ and teachers’ MH needs effectively.