BUFFALO, N.Y. — School districts across the state, including Buffalo, are now required to include mental health education into its health curriculum for elementary, middle and high school students. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the measure into law last July and takes effect July 1, 2018.

District leaders say they'll now review, revise and strengthen some of the mental health components already part of the health curriculum. They'll work to devise more age-appropriate content on topics like communication, building healthy relationships, anger management and community resources. They say children can exhibit early onset signs of anxiety, for instance as early as age 10.

Those with the state department of education and the mental health association are working to design a uniform set of guidelines for all districts, but will mandate any specific programs.

"For our students to know that it's normal for you to have issues, time to time, learning how to cope with stress that happens in life," said Andrea Norton, BPS physical education and health supervisor.

"Our young people are our future. And physical health is just as important as mental health, so we want to make sure they learn these things at an early age so they can become healthier as adults," said Karl Shallowhorn, MHA of Erie County and Compeer.