Editorial: Mental Health Needs to be Addressed in High School
Illustration by Eric Lechpammer.
My academic classes over the years have taught me critical skills to succeed as a student, whether in reading, writing, or math. These skills have been enhanced and refined over the years from elementary school through high school. Beyond learning these fundamental academic skills, health class touched upon sexual health and the practice of good personal habits. Physical education taught us that physical activity strengthens the body and even brain function. Mental health, however, and its critical role in a person’s wellbeing were never adequately addressed. With a more formal approach to mental health in school, I believe that the many challenges we typically encounter in life can be better addressed and, therefore, less impactful.
The standards that students are expected to uphold in school remain clear: get good grades, give best effort, be respectful, eat right, get enough sleep, etc. Yes, these are important factors in success, yet they are impossible without good mental health. For example, in high school, it is easy to get overwhelmed by stress from internal and external factors, thereby affecting one's self-image. Should I, too, be taking four AP classes and getting two different jobs outside of school? Is that enough? I have found that most people my age largely consider themselves alone in these feelings. In addition, today’s extreme social, health, and financial challenges have only heightened anxiety levels. Having coping strategies as a form of self-care and healing would benefit students tremendously.
I believe that a mandatory mental health class—even if it’s pass/fail—can afford me a more comprehensive educational experience and give me valuable tools for life. Such a class would highlight the importance of self-discovery, self-awareness, and self-healing. Such a class would also minimize the shame and stigma associated with mental health. Personally, it has taken me a lot of time and true reflection to fully understand my own importance and appreciate who I am and what I am able to do. Like many, this realization was largely the result of self-taught strategies and trial-and-error.
Who decided that the quadratic formula was worth learning, and how to appreciate oneself and the importance of mental health wasn’t?
