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TX CPE and Mental Health Awareness
How many CPE hours do I need in Texas?
Texas Classroom Teachers: 150 CPE Hours Required
The Teacher’s Academy is approved to provide Texas educators with professional development training to help them earn the 150 CPE clock hours required by the TEA. CPE#902185. Completion of each CPE activity is evidenced by Certificates of Completion. Teachers can create their own Teacher’s Academy account to purchase courses, upload projects and receive communications as well as their Certificate of Completion. Certificates will state our Texas Education Agency CPE# and CPE hours earned. The Teacher’s Academy courses are approved for Act 48 hours in PA, PD Points in TN, PGPs in IN, and many more states. Professional Development course projects consist of reflections, brief responses, customizable lesson plans, and activities so teachers have created something they can use and do not feel like they have wasted any of their valuable time. All of our courses are written by certified, experienced teachers.
Teachers who are sometimes in need of mental health…
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we would like to acknowledge the invisible struggle that so many of us endure during our daily lives. Mental health issues can be severe and debilitating or tolerable. Having personal experience with how difficult mental health can be to manage, I’d like to offer everyone a few tips that helped me. Even if you are not personally struggling with a mental health issue, you may know someone who does or you may be surprised by someone close to you suffering in silence. Maybe these tips will help someone else…
Seek help.
This might seem obvious but I didn’t really know what to do when I finally realized I had an issue. I was thinking, why do I feel so worried when I can’t think of one major thing that I am really worried about? My brain was releasing chemicals that were telling my body to feel worried when there was no logical event to initiate the release of that chemical. Someone told me “it’s like having a cold that no one can see.” So, I sought help and was told, “Anxiety” was very common. It often goes hand in hand with depression. A very good friend of mine has depression. She told me she used to cry all day and had no idea why. She would feel silly and embarrassed because she believed there were other people that had real reasons to be depressed and didn’t cry all day. Her doctor explained that her depression was being triggered by chemicals in her brain as well. It is true that anxiety and depression can be caused by trauma. However, people who seemingly have “no reason to worry” can also have those feelings. Left unchecked, the conditions can often get worse. If you had a terrible cold for many years and never got help, that would be silly. Your bones need to be strong so they don’t break – but if they did break- you’d get them fixed! Whatever your issues or your family/friend’s issues may be, please get help! You could have a condition like mine that it easily treatable and having you feeling good in no time! If your condition is more severe, it is important to get started finding successful ways that support living a full and happy life.
Be patient.
Taking care of your mental health is as important as taking care of your physical health. If you break a bone, it might take weeks or months to heal. Sometimes you might even need surgery! Mental health conditions are all different so one person may be able to manage their mental health quicker than another. I will admit, that I feel very lucky that I was able to get help and have a lot of support from family and friends. There is still so much to learn about mental health and many times there is not a quick fix. It took me a few weeks to figure out what worked and what didn’t. If you are going through the process of healing, remember that you are not alone, it will take time, and you are loved! Sometimes it felt good to talk to a close friend but other times I didn’t want to talk about it at all. Everyone handles things differently. Think about what works best for you and don’t be pressured to share if you’re not feeling it. Be aware there are people around that would be happy to give you a shoulder to lean on and I’m pretty sure they will give you space if needed as well.
Be empathetic.
I feel lucky to be able to manage my mental health issues. Many more people out there are not so lucky. There is a seemingly unending list of mental issues that can be triggered for any reason. Some of my own students have suffered with schizophrenia, depression (caused by severe trauma) anger issues, ADHD, etc. Without proper care, they will most likely suffer with these same mental health issues into adulthood. Adults left untreated are less likely to become happy, successful, contributing members of society. If we all become more empathetic to people suffering from “unseen” health issues we can make changes. Changes in policy so care can be available and accessible to adults, changes in early intervention so mental health can be addressed in students of all ages, and changes in how our society views mental health. It must be seen as a serious medical issue requiring at least the same amount of empathy as (for example) a broken bone.
The teachers from The Teacher’s Academy have developed a few courses that focus on the mental well-being of teachers and students. These courses challenge teachers to reflect on their own mental health by getting a better understanding of how our brains process information. The courses also offer resources, strategies and activities to use in the classroom. Take a deep breath, hold it, breath out slowly. This is the first step in helping you take control of your own mental health and being able to support other humans who enter your life with mental struggles of their own.
Mental Health Courses:
Teaching Empathy
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