Almost every person in their life goes through some time of depression, anxiety, or panic attack disorder. 1 in 5 children and youth have a diagnosable emotional, behavioral or mental health disorder. These types of disorders start at young ages because it is not only the situation that person is going through but also their biology, the actual structure of a person’s brain can affect how susceptible to a mental disorder they are.
As a freshman in college, I would like to say I understand how it feels to be stressed, to want to rip your hair out because a teacher changed a due date on you at the last minute. Even in high school, I was a mess. I self-harmed; I was depressed more than 85% of those 4 years, and not once was I offered help by a school counselor, my friends tried to help but another stressed high schooler can only help so much. EVERY school in the United States should offer classes on sustaining your mental health and keeping your level of stress at a manageable pace. Even though teachers are required to report signs of self-harm, and abuse to the proper authorities, most do not do it. Some teachers are so overloaded with other duties, such as being in charge of multiple different subject, clubs, sports team. My old high school one of my teachers doubled as a nurse. By putting so much on these men and women, we are neglecting kids who need serious help for their problems. We need to make it a requirement to report signs of neglected health, mood swings, lack of concentration, and isolating themselves. Or have someone hired to do just this.
Kids of every age need to be taught that they can talk to someone and that they shouldn’t feel stupid for needing help. According to the Association for Children’s Mental Health, “ estimates show that even though mental illness affects so many of our kids aged 6-17 at least one-half and many estimates as many as 80% of them do not receive the mental health care they need.” This percentage is insane, and this is not what needs to happen. Quit allowing students to push themselves to the breaking point over a few grades that in the long run are only a small percentage of what really matters. I learned pretty quickly that pulling an all-nighter over one grade that may only count as 5-8%, you’ll need sleep more than you need that A. You’ll need your ability to focus rather than downing 4 cups of coffee, or buying Adderall illegally. You have to learn that sometimes your health is more important.
Around a month and a half ago, a teenage boy, around 16, was accidentally shot and killed in a sort of freak accident, Many of my peers knew him and after several of them began neglecting their personal hygiene and were easily agitated when certain subjects came up due to their friend dying so young. It was a shock to everyone and with them just starting their junior and senior years of high school, they were extremely overwhelmed. This boy’s death sent two of these high schoolers into a depression that us as their friends could not get them out of. Teacher’s talked to them, but there was nothing more that could be done, after being sent to the counselor they were basically told that he was dead and they should just get over it. It made me sick, these people lost a close friend. In situations like these, some kids aren’t going to just get over it, most of them have never gone through anything like this and they need help being walked through the stages of grief. Even if a death is just a part of life, it came to be crippling to someone who isn’t prepared.
So many kids ages 6-18 need mental health support in school, schools should have classes, or an on-campus psychologist, not just a counselor who can sit down and have sessions with kids one-on-one, or even in a group therapy. Start a petition, talk to your peers and get a club started. As a student, you have a voice and it needs to be heard in these types of situations.