Prioritize Mental Health in Schools

By: Kayla Pinkerman

Many teens between the ages of 12 and 17 are experiencing anxiety or similar mental illnesses. While schools may help identify mental illnesses not many have the resources to best help these students succeed in the classroom. ​

​Many schools are actually starting to phase out behavioral health counselors due to a lack of qualification and budget cuts. Especially in the upper grades, which is where I feel they are most needed. Since students show more signs of anxiety in ages 12-17. As a student, I feel like school is also a major stressor. Teachers expect us to take notes, study those notes, do homework for our other classes, and sleep eight hours, all while still enjoying our high school years. We are staying up until one in the morning stressing over this work that is due the next day for four or more classes. So I ask you, how can we enjoy our lives outside of school when we have so much work to complete? 

Many students not only have this school work they have to complete after school, but some also have after school activities, such as sports or maybe even a job. I ask again, how can we enjoy our teen years when we have this work and have these after school activities?

Some adults will just tell us to manage our time more wisely. However, you can't plan for anxiety; it has no schedule. After anxiety hits, you will be drained and feel like you are unable to do any of that work. 

So, I ask you once more, how can we enjoy our lives when we have this work, activities outside of school, and struggle with mental health? This is why it’s so important that schools do not completely do away with behavioral health counselors. ​