● WHY do you feel this is an important social issue for you and/or your friends,

classmates, and students? (10 points)

Mental health is an incredibly important social issue that affects various groups of people daily.
If a teacher is struggling with their mental health, it is not fair to ask them to teach students and
guide them in their education when they should be focusing on bettering themselves. If students
are negatively affected by mental health they will not be able to focus on their education as
negative thoughts are constantly consuming their minds. It is imperative we diminish this social
issue which negatively impacts people's lives on a daily basis.

● HOW do you feel this negatively, or positively, affects students in 2023? (10
points)

Mental health has negatively affected students in 2023. The social issue continues to worsen
as social media dominates the world more daily. If students are struggling mentally, how can we
expect them to attend school for seven hours a day and learn? If schools focus more on
students' mental well-being, they can see students achieve higher levels and get the education
they deserve.

● WHAT do you think YOU can do about this to help others around you that might
be suffering because of this social issue? (10 points)

As of right now, I think it is important for me to be there for not only my friends but push myself
to make it clear I am available to anyone. I will continue to break down the stigma around
mental health, as it is completely normal and something most people suffer with. As a teacher, I
will ensure a positive classroom climate where my students feel safe to share their feelings. By
sharing feelings in the classroom, they will be able to decrease stress levels and get feedback
or help from peers or me to solve their various issues.