The mental well-being of students is the focal point of a new online portal that the New Mexico Public Education Department launched earlier this month.
The goal of the program, called "New Mexico Cares," is to help students improve their mental health by teaching them how to deal with bullies, make new friends, and manage their time wisely, according to KOB4. It also provides resources for teachers.
"There are some long-term studies that young people that possess these skills, or have some competency in these skills, are less likely to be involved in the juvenile justice system and are less likely to require subsidized housing and will have greater job satisfaction," Leslie Kelly, NMPED Behavioral Health Coordinator, told KOB.
Kelly's position with NMPED is new, and she said that part of the focus of the portal is going back to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. It states that people have basic needs that need to be met first — food, water, safety — at the base level, then "some emotional safety and comfort" on the next level of the pyramid before learning becomes possible.
Kelly said part of the goal of he portal is to help build a safe and supportive learning environment for students.