Mental Health has always been an interesting topic in society over time. It was expected to keep any mental struggle quiet back in the 1900s to have a ‘picture perfect’ society. Tayler Kinney, a counselor at Palmer Ridge states “There are still some barriers to accessing mental health services for families and there is still a stigma around asking for help.” Today, as our suicide rates have skyrocketed, society encourages us to share mental health struggles and find help to work through those hardships.
We have seen an upward trend of mental health struggles, school seems to be a primary element to anxiety and depression. Myraezia Wyckoff says, “Usually the stress of school causes me to be tired all the time and feel like I can never get a break.” Isabel Doyle comments that school “makes sleeping really hard. Also, it makes all of my assignments harder because I’m constantly worried and stressed.” The constant need to finish work can be very stressful on the mind and body. Many effects from this can be lack of sleep, disorientation, body aches, high blood pressure, and so much more. From the chemistry perspective of mental health, your amygdala is the keeper of all emotions and stress stimulants’. We are affected very differently by stress than adults, as they use their frontal cortex for emotional processing. Adolescents use their amygdala to control emotion, which can get a little dicey. Your stress response is heightened leading to outbursts or meltdowns. The stress stimulants are called and moved to the information processing center in your brain and sent out into your body. That stimulant causes the stress reaction.
Tayler Kinney works with this struggle daily as “many students feel overwhelmed by their busy schedules, school work, home life, connections to others and social media. Students often do not realize that many of their peers are dealing with the same struggles.”
Mental Health is an issue in the school environment, so what is Palmer Ridge doing about this? One strive towards help is the new ninja chair in our student leadership. Kenzie MacLeod, the ninja chair head expressed, “The new ninja chair is just trying to get the school more aware of mental health issues.” This chair used to be implemented in the council but lost traction over time. Our student body President Kaya Kimmy reintroduced this chair back into the council. Kenzie says, “This new chair could help because we have some really neat things we have been planning to help out the students of PR with mental health issues. We know how important mental health is and we want to make sure everyone here has a safe space and a voice.” With the student council leading the way, many other clubs and organizations have added ways for members to reach out for help and support to make connections within their community.
Our school counselors work daily to support students in their need for help. Last year, a cool-down room was made in Neighborhood B so students could work through their stress in a quiet, safe environment. Mrs. Kinney has added stress toys, coloring pages, and journaling supplies to give students tools to work through their stress. Many teachers at Palmer Ridge have also been trying to ease the blow to students’ mental health. Myraezia Wycoff states, “I think teachers are helpful when it comes to hearing you out and making sure you are capable of getting all of your work done.” They do this by giving extra time on tests and assignments, accepting late work, providing additional support before school, after school, during planning periods, and bear time, and giving extra credit if asked for. Not all teachers do all of these things, but most teachers want their students to thrive and support their learning the best they can.
Safe2Tell is also a very good resource for students as if they need immediate help, they can reach out anonymously letting the school know something is happening and they can provide support immediately. Many students feel this may be an impractical way to get support, but it is the exact opposite. You don’t have to disclose your identity and feel like you are being supported. Safe2Tell is a great way to alert the school when something is happening under the radar.
Palmer Ridge is doing a good job of supporting the mental health issues in the student population, but what can they do better? Kenzie states “I feel that the teachers and the district should have more teachers that are open with the support of mental health and understanding what poor mental health can do to a person. I believe we need more opportunities for students’ voices to be heard on what they’re going through.” Students should have more voice in their needs instead of school officials deciding for them. The school could put out one of Dr. Franks’s famous polls to gather information on what the students need. Isabel says “Help create an environment where getting an A doesn’t feel like life or death.” Grades are a main stressor in students’ lives as they are the building blocks for their college future. Kinney says, “Students want to thrive, receive good grades, participate in school activities, make their families proud, give back to their community… Often students feel overcommitted, and other times they feel like all they do is homework and do not have time to be a ‘kid.’ They have to be a ‘triple threat.’ We must do it all or we will not be successful.”
The pressure school can put on a student can make them blow if they don’t have access to the right tools.
The school should spread the idea of having fun in your high school years to students. Academics aren’t everything; building good character is what makes you successful. Kinney states, “As teachers and counselors, building relationships with kids is one of the most important factors in helping students’ mental health. We want staff to look at each student as a unique individual. Support mental health and help students find services and resources to help them.” Students feel more accepted by teachers who put in effort to have a relationship with them as a guide to their success. The more the student feels comfortable with a teacher, the more likely they will share their struggles. Getting help is crucial when struggling with mental health; teachers are a great place to go. The teachers at Palmer Ridge should strive for individual support if needed by the students to support them the best they can with any need.
If you are struggling with mental health, please seek guidance and help from someone you trust. If you feel suicidal, please use Colorado Crisis Services, the national suicide hotline, or Safe2Tell Colorado.
