Mental Wellness

Mind Matters //  Focusing on mental health matters just as much as physical health, and nobody should feel alone in what they’re going through. Spreading awareness can help create a more supportive and understanding world for everyone. (Photo by Megan Meusy)

Mental health is something a lot of people don’t talk about enough, especially in the realm of academics. Everyone is busy with classes, sports, friendships, and trying to figure out their future. While life keeps going, the mind might have a hard time catching up. For high school students, especially, things can get overwhelming really fast. From the outside, it might look like everyone has everything together, but in reality, a lot of students are struggling silently with stress, anxiety, or feeling burnt out.

One of the biggest problems is the stigma around mental health. People are sometimes afraid to open up because they don’t want to be judged or seen differently. It can feel easier to just say ‘I’m fine’ even when they’re not. However, ignoring those feelings doesn’t make them go away, in fact, stuffing them down usually just makes things worse over time.

Mental health is just as important as physical health. If you had a broken arm, you wouldn’t ignore it, you’d get help to treat it. The same idea should apply to how we feel emotionally. Talking to someone you trust, like a friend, parent, coach, or counselor, can actually make a huge difference. Even small things like taking breaks, getting enough sleep, or doing something you enjoy can help improve your mental state.

Another important part of mental health awareness is learning how to support others. Sometimes just listening to a friend without judging them can mean a lot more than trying to give advice. Checking in on people, even with a simple ‘are you okay?’, can make someone feel seen and cared about. It also helps create a more positive and understanding environment where people feel less alone.

Although schools are starting to take mental health more seriously by bringing it up in classes like Health Education and organizations like Hope Squad, there’s still a long way to go. Students should feel supported and safe enough to speak up about what they’re going through. Being kind to others also matters more than people realize, because you never really know what someone else is dealing with.

At the end of the day, mental health awareness is about understanding, support, and not feeling alone. It’s okay to not be okay sometimes, but it’s important to reach out to trusted people in your life to get the help you need. To achieve this, it is crucial that the stigma around mental health gets removed in schools amongst other settings so that students and adults alike are better able to communicate and help others with their internal struggles.