Mental health has become one of the biggest struggles for high school students. According to an article titled “Adolescent mental health continues to worsen” posted on the website for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-youth/mental-health/index.html), 40% of high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Studies also show about 1 in 5 adolescents struggle with anxiety and depression, with higher rates among girls, and 75% of high schoolers experience near-daily stress from academics.
Junior Brianna Sobalvarro stated, “I believe the biggest mental health challenges that students face nowadays are self-doubt, anxiety, insecurity about themselves and depression.”
“My constant worry of academic stress can not only affect me in school, but it can also hit me at random times throughout the day or even in situations that have no direct connection to school,” Junior Osmel Diaz stated.
This is the reality of what students go through, as their struggles are made by daily pressures, personal challenges, and the lessons they continue to learn throughout their life.
Deadlines, homework, and tests can make them feel stressed and drained. As senior Brianna Carillo shared, “Academic pressure can stress me out. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed trying to keep up with homework, class work, and the due dates. Most of the time it can leave me feeling drained.”
Junior Montserrat Cerrato stated, “I feel pressure of wanting to always get good grades on assignments and tests.”
When it comes to talking about mental health, students have different experiences. Junior Russell Reyes states, “It really depends on who it is because I could only tell people that I have a close friendship with and that are always with me at school and outside of school.”
Junior Bradley Franco does feel comfortable with friends and says, “Humans need to express how they feel because if they don’t talk, it can affect their mental health a lot more, so I recommend talking about it.”
Junior Angel Hernandez explained, “I feel comfortable talking with friends about my mental health because friends can guide you through pain and anxiety. It is always good to talk to somebody knowing they would be there for you.”
To stay motivated, many students try to balance school and personal life. Montserrat Cerrato said, “I would say to try and give time to your schoolwork and personal life.”
“Music helps me relax and feel happy during stressful times. Talking to my friends about what’s bothering me also helps, and by the end, I’m in a much better mood,” Brianna Sobalvarro said.
Social media also plays a role in students’ mental health. As Brianna Carrillo shared, “Social media has good and bad sides for me. It’s positive because I can communicate with anybody there, but it is also negative, because sometimes being on social media for too long can be a distraction.”
Bradley Franco stated, “Social media isn’t good for mental health because it spreads negativity, so we should focus on kindness and cut out the unnecessary drama.”
Even though school can feel overwhelming, students find ways to cope. Russell Reyes shared, “It really depends on having the right people around you, the ones who make school feel less stress.”
Senior Alondra Canales stated, “Anxiety is something most students deal with, but when schools provide help, it makes a difference.”
Many believe things can improve if schools focus more on balance and support. As Montserrat Cerrato said, “Balancing school and personal life is what helps students feel more stable.”
Brianna Carrillo said, “Schools should focus more on mental health support because it can help students feel less overwhelmed.”
