Sofia Cacho, Veronica Molina, and Diana Felix

English 3H

October 21, 2019

Do schools need to provide more mental health services to students?

What is the secret to success in school? Some may say hard work, dedication, or attitude,

but none of those are even possible without a good state of mind. Good mental health is critical

for the success of a student in the classroom, as studies have shown that students perform better

in the classroom when supported mentally and emotionally. Resources for the betterment of

student’s mental health are highly effective when available in an environment where the student

spends much of their time, such as their school.

With all the benefits that come with students having good mental health, one is left to

wonder if schools are doing enough to help their students. According to a study done by the

American Psychological Association in 2014, 31% of teens reported feeling overwhelmed and

30% reported feeling sad or depressed due to stress. The main contributor to this stress, for most

teenagers, is school. The CEO of the American Psychological Association, Norman B. Anderson

states that "we need to provide teens with better support and health education at school and

home, at the community level and in their interactions with health-care professionals."

The truth is, not many schools have taken action to provide mental health services for

students. Many kids have been suffering mentally in school and there is no action to help them

succeed. According to the Association for Children’s Mental Health (ACMH), an estimate on

kids 6-17 shows “as many as 80% of them do not receive the mental health care they need.”

Those in power must think about this simple question: what if it were their child feeling

suffocated under mounds of stress and pressure from school? Of course, they would want
immediate change in school systems to help their child. Therefore, change is needed and systems

for the betterment of mental health need to be implemented immediately. Some change has

begun to be implemented as Nancy Barile, a National Board Certified Teacher, states how,

“Beginning in July 2018, New York will be the first state in the nation to require mental health

education for all students.” This is the course of actions that need to take place in every state to

promote a better, mentally safe and enjoyable school system for the well-being of all students.