The Senate approved a bill to better equip educators to recognize and address the mental health needs of students.

Senate Bill 446, by Sen. John Haste, would require the State Department of Education and the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to develop educator training programs on student mental health.

The Broken Arrow Republican said teachers say they need more funding in the classroom and help with students’ mental health issues.

“Educators are facing more student mental health problems each year.  Not being able to properly address these issues can negatively impact the child’s educational success and mental health moving forward as well as being a distraction to other students and causing the teacher undue stress when he or she feels helpless in assisting the student,” said Haste.