Student Mental Health Focus

By: Mary Barry

I paired up with Ms. Youso, our school social worker to discuss student mental health issues during the pandemic. We discussed ways to cope and help students who are struggling. Here are some helpful tips to remember: 

• If you are struggling with mental health issues, (examples: depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, ptsd, or any others) reach out. It can be hard to reach out but getting help is one of the first steps helping yourself to feel better. You deserve to be happy, as much as it feels like it, you are not alone and people care about you.  You are loved and appreciated.
• If you have a friend struggling with suicidal thoughts or tells you about self harm, tell a trusted adult that will take care of the situation and get them help. 
• Be supportive and don't discourage anyone who may be struggling. Motivate your friend, even simple things like going for a walk, or getting something to eat. 
• Remember that just because your friend is smiling and looks happy doesn't mean they're happy, here's the meaning of depression.

Depression is real and can affect anyone. Possible causes of depression include a combination of biological, psychological, and social sources of distress. Increasingly, research suggests these things  may cause changes in brain function, including altered activity of certain neural circuits in the brain.

The constant feeling of sadness or loss of interest that characterizes major depression can lead to a range of behavioral and physical symptoms. These may include changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration, daily behavior, or self-esteem. Depression can also be partnered with thoughts of suicide.

​Below is an addition form school social worker Laurie Youso. Students can reach out to Laurie at any time.

​Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life.
Things that can cause mental health problems include biological factors, (your genetic makeup or brain chemistry), negative life experiences such as trauma or abuse, or a family history of mental illness, such as depression.
Early warning signs of mental health issues may include any or some of the following:
 Eating or sleeping too much or too little,

• Pulling away from people and usual activities
• Having low or no energy
• Feeling numb or like nothing matters
• Having unexplained aches and pains
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
• Yelling or fighting with family and friends
• Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
• Having persistent thoughts and memories you can't get out of your head
• Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
• Thinking of harming yourself or others
• Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or know someone who is, it is important to get assistance.  Making an appointment with your family physician, or a mental health provider is a great first step.  It is also important that you be honest with your provider so that they can determine the best way to help you.  There are different  types of mental health treatment, such as talk therapy, medication therapy and  sometimes hospitalization, depending on what your needs are.  If someone is thinking about hurting themselves, it is always important that you get them help immediately.  Immediate help can be through calling the crisis line (211) or calling law enforcement (911) and making sure the person is connected with someone who can assess their risk of danger.

​Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and again if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or depression,  I want you to know that you are here for a reason and your struggle is just as important as anyone else’s.