Our schools often don’t cover some of the important life aspect topics and one such topic is mental health.
After doing a few research on mental health found out that the average age that people start showing early signs of mental illness is 14 years old? This is one of many reasons why schools need to be involved in mental illness awareness .
And I can't ignore this topic since everyone passes through a phase where we don’t know why is this shit happening and we dwell into anxiety or depression or even mental breakdown and we often get shy to admit it to someone. (even me when finals)
No matter how a student is affected by mental illness, they need information and resources in order to deal with it whether they search for it or not.
They need to know where they can go to ask for help if they or someone they care about is exhibiting signs of mental illness.
And they need to know that they’re not alone
There are some circumstances specific to teenagers that may put them at an even greater risk for suicide attempts and other potentially life-threatening behavior than adults with the same illness.
Teens tend to be more impulsive than adults, and often lack the experience to pause and take a long-term view of a given situation.
The teenage brain is still not fully developed, which may be the reason why even mentally healthy teens sometimes make short-sighted, foolish, and even dangerous decisions, and a mental illness increase that risk.
Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood ( as per mentalhealth.gov )
Although the general perception of mental illness has improved over the past decades, studies show that stigma against mental illness is still powerful, largely due to media stereotypes and lack of education, and that people tend to attach negative stigmas to mental health conditions at a far higher rate than to other diseases and disabilities, such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease.
Stigma affects not only the number seeking treatment but also the number of resources available for proper treatment. Stigma and misinformation can feel like overwhelming obstacles for someone who is struggling with a mental health condition.
If you ever feel sad, anxiety or you wanna vent or anything related, always feel free to contact me.
Here a few powerful things you can do to help:
Showing individuals respect and acceptance removes a significant barrier to successfully coping with their illness. Having people see you as an individual and not as your illness can make the biggest difference for someone who is struggling with their mental health.
Advocating within our circles of influence helps ensure these individuals have the same rights and opportunities as other members of your church, school, and community.
Learning more about mental health allows us to provide helpful support to those affected in our families and communities.
I hope you find this article helpful, feel free to share this with your friends.