Mental health is an important attribute in our lives. It should be talked about more, considering that it affects your relationships with others and yourself, your school studies and activities, and your social life.  

     Junior Andre Rodriguez stated, “Mental health shapes your future and shapes who you grow up to be.” Many of our decisions in life are influenced by our mental stability. 

   Realizing the impact mental health has in your life is a first big step into acknowledging how significant it is. Genesis Franco, a junior, stated, “Mental health is overlooked, especially at schools, which should spread more awareness about it and the struggles that come along with it.”  

 Effects/Results on how not tending to your mental health affects you 

     Students often lose determination, which affects them immensely. Not paying attention to your mental health struggles and dismissing them causes them to increase, having a drastic change in your social life and your behavior.  

    A.G., a junior, stated, “When I don’t acknowledge the mental struggles I’m having, it starts affecting me emotionally and physically preventing me from performing my activities at my full potential.” Many can relate to this sudden lack of motivation, especially during the 2020 pandemic, which many still haven’t recovered from.  

    Not tending to your mental health might also cause physical problems, like losing weight. Normally when you struggle mentally, you don’t do anything and disregard everything and everyone around you. This could lead you to not be concerned about your eating habits, and how you’re eating less than you usually do. The lack of motivation and determination get to you, and you go without noticing how much your mental state affects you.  

 Disadvantages of struggling mentally 

   When struggling mentally and having difficulty performing activities you usually do with ease, it usually has an explanation behind it. People tend to ignore their mental health struggles by trying to find new distractions when they should really be trying ways to improve their mental state. Your mental state can cause changes in your life like losing friends, poorly treating your family members, and isolating yourself from everything.  

   Junior Emily Matter states,“I act impulsive at times, and I push people away, but I have learned to accept and care for the ones that understand how my mental state is the reason why I isolate from them.”  

    Missing school or work is another problem that affects your life due to your mental state. Junior Yanise Guardia says, “I feel low mentally to the point that I can’t stand up from my bed and go to school, I end up regretting it since it is affecting my grades and social interaction.” 

 Mental Health affecting others 

    Mental problems affect your confidence, which causes you to have a low self-esteem and doubting your actions and thoughts, which leads to you overthinking. According to the article, “What causes mental health problems?” published by Mind Infoline in October 2017, people usually struggle with mental health because of trauma they might have experienced, neglect from home or with peers, childhood abuse, social isolation, and discrimination. Mental health comes to influence you no matter how big or small the problem might be.  

   Sophomore Naveah Alfonso is an example of how mental health affects you; she struggles with depression and mood swings and states that the best way to help yourself is “When you often find yourself battling with emotions you can’t control, try to seek help and comfort from your closest friends and trusted family members.”  

 Improving the awareness of Mental Health 

    Improving the importance of mental health would be a big step into society, seeing how much of an impact it does have on people’s lives. Spreading awareness on the struggles, the disadvantages, and the emotional state it puts others in might be beneficial for people, by letting them know they always have someone to talk too.  

   Sophomore Melodysol Rivera says, “Try to go seek professional help or go to emotional support groups, which could help you improve your mental state or at least have a better understanding of it.”  

    Sophomore Isabella Rodriguez suggested, “Posting it on your social media platforms could be a huge boost into spreading the awareness of mental health and illnesses.” 

Common Mental Health Disorders 

1. Depression 

1. Anxiety 

1. Eating Disorders 

1. Bipolar Disorder 

1. Schizophrenia