Start the conversation

BY: ALAINA H.

In every classroom I have ever been in, one thing is always the same: the posters. “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes,” they say, “learn from them.” So why does the modern education system put so much pressure on students to be perfect? These unrealistic expectations and the immense pressure that they place on us have resulted in a school system whose primary focus is perfection. This stress-inducing atmosphere is causing an increase in anxiety among teenagers, but many schools do not offer adequate mental health services to students.

School revolves around numbers. Grade point average. Test scores. Rank. But the problem with numbers is that there is no room for error. This pressure to be perfect, to not make mistakes, has caused a steep increase in anxiety among high school students. According to the Child Mind Institute, “High school students today have more anxiety symptoms and are twice as likely to see a mental health professional as teens in the 1980s,” and “nearly one in three adolescents (31.9%) will meet criteria for an anxiety disorder by the age of 18.”

Although anxiety among students is becoming increasingly more common, the number of resources available at school to these suffering students is simply inadequate. According to an article published by NPR in 2016 titled Mental Health in Schools: A Hidden Crisis Affecting Millions of Students, “... most children — nearly 80 percent — who need mental health services won't get them.” This isn’t at the fault of the students, or the staff. There are simply not enough mental health professionals hired by school districts. In the United States, each school counselor is responsible for an average of 500 students, almost double what is recommended by the American School Counselor Association. And, according to the National Association of School Psychologists, there is only one psychologist available to every 1,400 students.

The lack of mental health resources is not the only concerning aspect of this problem; the lack of conversation is just as significant. The stigma surrounding mental illness has created a seemingly unsurpassable barrier when it comes to mental health discussions in a school environment.

Some may argue that discussing mental health with “impressionable” young students will cause an increase in mental illness among them, but this is simply not the case. Starting the conversation is the most important step in removing the stigma surrounding mental illness, and may even inspire more students to seek help.

“One small change can make a big difference,” another common phrase posted on the walls of West Jefferson High School classrooms. I’m urging students to take their advice. Start the conversation, for the sake of those who are struggling to speak up.