Written by: GiAnna Biondi
Edited by: Giselle Martins
Children spend most of their time in some sort of educational setting. With long days lasting seven hours, five days a week, students will not leave their emotions at home. Mental health plays a huge role in a student’s success and well-being. Every student deserves to be validated within their educational setting, and this must be shown throughout academic environments. It is imperative for students to be able to have access to resources regarding mental health, and to be able to have their voices heard.
According to prior research done by Satcher , about 12-22% of students under the age of eighteen are in need of resources in regards to their mental health and surrounding problems, such as emotional and behavioral (Satcher, 2000). These problems could create a significant impact on the students’ academic career. However, it is vitally important for schools to create an environment where students do not feel as if they are just a grade, and that they feel a sense of importance when they walk through those school doors.
Students do not leave their emotions right at the school doors. It is essential to take into consideration the student’s home life as well, rather than just focusing on what the student does in school. Many use schools as a ‘safe-space’, to get away from their home environment. Schools should be a warm environment for everyone, and they feel extremely welcoming. No matter who the student is, they deserve to be treated with valuable respect and kindness.
Many students may feel ashamed to want to seek help within an academic environment. Oftentimes, they may feel as if they are looked down upon by their peers and/or teachers, may feel as if they are just being ‘overdramatic’, and that their feelings truly are not valid. Students often may feel singled out, and this could interfere with their emotions. This is extremely common in educational settings (Kranke et al, 2010). Establishing a sort of communication and connection with the student is key. Bonds are special to students, and could be held on for a very long time by them. This could validate the students’ feelings, and encourage them to want to go to school.
Having available mental health professionals in educational settings, such as school social workers and school psychologists, is a strong service for students to be able to use. These are the first assets a student will be referred to if they are in a crisis of any sort. Unfortunately, a small number of students are able to receive this service. Funding is crucial to schools, and it is important to push for the proper fundings for mental health services for these students (Maag, 2010). As research has increased about the importance of mental health in students under the age of eighteen, some school districts have trained teachers on how to handle the crises of their students.
However, not all school districts nationwide have provided this, and many students still struggle in school environments (Maag, 2010). Teachers are important factors within a student’s life. They serve as mentors of some sort, and push for student success. As mentioned before, unfortunately many teachers and other academic professionals foresee their students as just a grade, and not one who has emotion (Kranke et al, 2010). Teachers should always be on top of their students’ well-being, and regularly check up on them. It is important for those who work in a school environment to reduce the stigma of mental health, make it more ‘normalized’, and a subject that is educated upon students. Being educated about mental health could help others see the reality of it, and not listen to societal deems, especially in school settings.
Although mental health in society has increased over the years, it still needs some work, especially to break the stigmas behind mental health. Students should be able to feel valid in school, and to make their voices heard amongst others. You never know what someone is going through. You never know the homelife or the inner emotions of a student. It is essential to make the student know that there are resources available to help them, and that they are able to communicate their feelings. Students should not feel alone, and should feel safe to come into an academic environment,
References:
Satcher, D. (2000). Mental health: A report of the Surgeon General--Executive summary. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 31(1), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.31.1.5
Kranke, D., Floersch, J., Townsend, L., & Munson, M. (2010). Stigma experience among
adolescents taking psychiatric medication. Children and Youth Services Review, 31, 496–505.
Maag, J. W., & Katsiyannis, A. (2010). School-Based Mental Health Services: Funding Options and Issues. Journal of Disability Policy Studies, 21(3), 173-180. https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207310385551
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