Breathing heavily. Heart beating fast. Eyes wide. Fists clenched while your head is going 100 miles per hour. Fear envelops you in an icy grip. Tears stream down your cheeks. Anxiety attacks are the worst. But unlike what may you think, you aren’t alone.
One in seven children between the ages of 10-19 experience a mental illness according to the World Health Organization. These encompass many different disorders with many different traits. Not only this, but according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) “15% of adolescents aged 12-17 reported receiving mental health services at school.” The education system mainly teaches about the effects of suicide, but this is not enough. The school needs to do more to increase mental health awareness.
The school system is trying their best to be more inclusive, but many might not see it from a student’s perspective. The most current attempt, Bru Crew, is not really effective so far. Some students are not close to the teachers they were assigned, and not everyone can have the teachers they prefer. Not every teacher knows what to do either, as they do not understand everything that goes through a teenagers head, nor are they always aware of what is best for the students. Some other resources, like the Mental Health Council and Youth Services Center, are not advertised enough to have a big impact. Teachers also can’t force trust on a student. Trust comes naturally with spending time in a class with that teacher and talking to them.
Many of the schools have videos and speeches related to mental health. This is not the most effective way to teach students about mental health. The student body needs more interactive solutions, something more extravagant. Some may disagree with this, as they may think “If mental health is so serious then the school should take this seriously!” However, we do need something fun, because none of the students are going to listen. Students already have to listen to teachers droning on for most of the year, so nobody wants to watch another speech unless it’s interactive.
One idea that may be more memorable is an art gallery for mental health. Not just including visual art, but also song lyrics, poetry, and short stories. It could be hung up in the halls of the school where kids can see. This is more intriguing, and will be easier to see. There can be QR codes for available resources in the school and outside sources. Another idea is creating google doc recommendations for other resources.
Another idea is that the student body can have support buddies. This can be completely optional. There can be a Google form created asking what students may need help with, what they can support others with, what they like and dislike, and demographic questions. An optional question that can be added is what mental illnesses they are diagnosed with. Students can do a week-long trial with partners so they know if they will get along. The leaders can keep in touch to make sure everything is okay, as well. There can be a survey at the end of the span of a year to see if their mental state is better.
The school should also include more fun and interactive games about mental illness and its symptoms. Some examples include a mental health jeopardy, a board game night related to mental health, and video game night. Games might include Depression Quest, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, and Sea of Solitude. This will give a more exciting way to learn about mental health. Students then might gain an understanding that they are not alone and there are people to support them.
All in all, one thing to remember is that you are not alone. If you are struggling, there are people around you that want to help, and you might just need time to find your people. Reach out to some adult you trust if you need to. Some outside resources is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Disaster Distress Helpline (call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746) or Crisis Textline (text TALK to 741741). You can go to the Youth Service Center or the counselors office as well. You may need help, and that’s okay. You are loved no matter what you feel. You are not a burden.
