Mental health is a very important part of life. According to Oxford’s dictionary, mental health is a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. In more recent years, mental health has become more known and more important in professional and education settings. At work, many adults can not complete work and tasks if their mental health is not the best. Depression is one of the most common mental issues, especially in America. In the United States, more than 8% of working adults have major depression according to Mental Health America. Besides adults, a lot of teens and even children can suffer from mental issues, the most common being depression. In America alone, 15% of youth suffer from major depression. While those two numbers may be small, they do reach millions in numbers. For most students, school is one of the biggest contributors to their mental health, both positive and negative.
A sophomore, Jordan, has been very vocal about their opinion and thoughts on mental health for a couple years now. In their opinion, mental health is extremely important in school. “I think it should be put first in the classroom, not grades or homework,” said Jordan. Oftentimes, students struggle because of the overwhelming pressure from school. Many say they are anxious about grades, especially huge tests and state testing. As of last school year in Pennsylvania, it became a graduation requirement to pass all of the Keystones. If a student does not pass, they must retake the Keystones or choose another option which could be both tiring and expensive. This has really worried students, especially those who are not good test takers. Jordan also stated, “If a student is not in a good mental state, then they can not give their best work,” Other students had similar words, stating that they feel like their work is not up to par for what their capabilities are. Jordan personally stated that their mental health is not the best, stating that stress from school is the main reason why. To counter this, they have been journaling more and talking it out with close friends.
Whether a student suffers from depression, anxiety, or another mental illness, they should always put themselves first. All across America, there are hotlines and websites to seek help or treatment. As well as online, students con go to their counselor or teachers at school. Students should not feel embarrassed or scared, because taking care of themselves is natural and expected. For more information about mental health, go to https://mhanational.org/.
