‘You Are Not Alone’: Minnesota mandates mental health education for all students

Minnesota students will soon see new mental health lessons in their classrooms.

Beginning in the 2026–27 school year, all public and charter schools must provide mental health instruction aligned with statewide health standards.

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) said the goal is to help students understand positive mental health, recognize warning signs, seek help effectively and reduce stigma.

What the new standards require

The state’s new mental and emotional health standards outline four components that districts must meet:

• Understanding how to foster and maintain positive mental health
• Understanding common mental health disorders, signs, symptoms and treatments
• Understanding how to seek help effectively
• Understanding stigma and strategies...