Michael Lopez and Niala Mitchell

Editorial Challenge

Storer

10/22/19

According to the U.S Department of Health and Human services, every one in five

children experiences mental health crises during their school year. Research supports the idea

that those who are more mentally stable are more likely to better achieve their goals

academically. Services should be offered in school because this is where students spend most of

their time throughout the week. By offering discrete mental health services to students this could

improve the state of children struggling with mental health and even lower suicide rates among

adolescents. As a student myself, I often see people joke around with mental health, which is

also a common way many people reach out for help. There is often a negative stigma around the

idea of an individual who is mentally sick seeking help; however, rarely anyone would find

something wrong with the idea of someone who is physically sick seeking a doctor. By being

exposed to confidential mental health services an individual could confide about their anxiety,

depression, and etc.. Poor mental health effects, of course, the individual but also the people

surrounding them, it affects families and friends. I have known people in my own life that have

attempted to hurt themselves. Many students do not have a stable family and school is their only

time away from a negative environment; therefore schools should provide resources to help that

individual with the necessary tools to combat their battles with mental health.