Mental Crisis' Among Teens, an article by Kaveeshan Gnanarajah

 Mental Crisis' Among Teens by Kaveeshan Gnanarajah

A lot of high school students are struggling. Whether they are nervous about school, stressed from social media, or anything else in their personal life, mental health issues among the students currently in high school are a crisis; millions of people need help. The CDC reported that 40% percentage of high school students are or have experienced feelings of hopelessness or depression, but they hide it. These are not just statistics; these are real people, real teens who are sitting in classrooms every day trying to manage their emotions.

So what causes this? Obviously, it is not just social media, although it does play a massive role. Lots of students can admit that their addiction and allocation of time towards social media does harm them. Constant comparisons to celebrities, or even people in your school, cyberbullying, and the pressure to maintain a perfect online image will fatigue you. Adding in those who have high academic pressure, family stress, and are not in the best financial situations, and you have a ticking time bomb in action. Schools are definitely seeing more students who are seeking mental health services, but many cannot effectively provide help to everyone. Simply, the resources cant keep up with the demand. These circumstances show why it's critical for students to have friends and family who they can talk to when needed. We need more mental health support and adults who actually listen to people who need help. 

CDC. “Mental Health.” Adolescent and School Health, 29 Nov. 2024, www.cdc.gov/healthy-youth/mental-health/index.html.

Note: Immediate support and helplines

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor 24/7.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline: Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) to speak with a Teen & YA Specialist.
• Trevor Project Text Start to 678-678 or call 1866-488-7386
• Teen line: Text "Teen""  to 839863 everyday from 6-9pm CA
•  If you are feeling suicidal and need to speak to someone right away, please call or text 988 24/7 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.