Lily Jackson ‘28, Feature Editor
In today’s culture, whether online or in a school community, conversations about mental health are often avoided. Harmful stigmas formed by misapprehension that surround mental health can be damaging to struggling individuals.
For instance, those who openly discuss their mental health issues are often viewed as ‘vulnerable’ or ‘dramatic’. Consequently, a statistic from the CDC (Center of Disease Control) substantiates that four out of 10 high school students struggle with mental health issues on a daily basis or have difficulty advocating for themselves. The most likely reason behind this disheartening statistic is a lack of discussions and education on mental health. Most individuals do not take advantage of or even recognize available resources surrounding them, which can lead to more negative generalizations. In order to address and hopefully eradicate these stigmas, conversations on mental health are crucial. Advocating and using available resources when necessary is one of the many things individuals, specifically students, can do not only for themselves but to work towards eliminating misinterpretations surrounding mental health.
At SLHS, many resources and support systems are available. Counselors are great resources that want to help struggling students as much as possible. They provide advice as well as giving time to relax and wind down during stressful school days. Posters with QR codes around the school and posted outside of student services can be used to get in contact with them. Reaching out to SL’s counselors is a helpful way to address and communicate about emotions preoccupying daily life.
Additionally, Mrs. Kimberly Ellis, a counselor at SLHS, elaborates on why self advocacy is so important by explaining that internal struggles aren’t always visible. She said, ”Seeking help from available resources at the school is a great way to work towards mitigating hardships.” Counselors are well informed with strategies that encourage recovery and provide opportunities for students’ mental health to improve. Misconceptions about mental health can be avoided fairly easily by communicating openly about emotions. Talking about mental health, personal struggles, or emotions does not equate to weakness.
Although the school provides many resources for struggling students, more coping methods and conversations could benefit the mental health culture as a school. For example, assemblies to provide coping techniques for stress along with promised confidentiality with counselors and utilization of resources like Oakley would be beneficial. In the past SLHS has had assemblies surrounding other heavy topics such as substance abuse along with fun pep rallies, yet there has rarely ever been interactive conversations about mental health issues. By expanding resources and hosting discussions, SLHS can strive for change.
As a society, working towards a more positive, unconcealed mental wellness community is a way to ensure that safe places for individuals can be established. It is particularly important to improve the mental health community because various stigmas conceive men weak for expressing their emotions can force them to repress feelings. That is why days like Oct. 10—World Mental Health Awareness Day—are so important: a day to share perspectives and reinforce the idea that no one is alone. Regardless of gender, sexuality, race or age absolutely no one deserves to feel isolated or scrutinized against for having courage to advocate for themselves.
Opening up safe spaces for conversations about mental health struggles and emotions is the one of the strongest things a person can do. Admitting to not being okay, and taking steps towards getting help is the first advancement as a society that can be made to normalize mental health advocacy. Expanding coping mechanisms available in SLHS and utilizing readily available resources are things as a community that can be done to positively impact society’s reception to and understanding of mental health.
Lyon Life 