When dealing with mental health, school can seem like a daunting task to deal with each day. Constant thoughts and feelings of loneliness, lack of interest in simple day-to-day activities, and overthinking are very common in most mental health disorders.
I personally deal with two major mental health disorders, anxiety and depression, both of which keep me from enjoying my life around me. The constant thoughts that consume my mind are the belief that no one else understands what I’m going through and the need to tear myself down when something goes wrong or I make a mistake.
Many teens who experience mental health challenges try to work through ignoring those negative thoughts and focusing on more positive things. You may feel alone, but there will always be at least one person in your life that you can talk to. A parent, a sibling, a friend, a therapist, a teacher, and so many more. The beautiful thing about healing is you don’t have to do it alone. There is always someone in your life who wants to sit down, listen to you, and help you through the battle of your mind.
Mental health has always been a major problem in society, in worst cases leading to an extreme spike in suicidal thoughts and attempts, over 3.4 million in children 18 and under as of 2024. A lot of these cries for help are overlooked because of the stigma around mental health. This stigma in many cases is formed from a lack of understanding about what mental health conditions are and what it’s like to live with a mental health disorder.
There are so many different mental disorders and each person deals with their mental health differently. Some are able to cope with the therapy they sign up for or the medicine they take each morning, but the most difficult thing about mental disorders is that they cannot be seen. This makes mental disorders extremely difficult to deal with for individuals, as many feel they are dealing with this disorder alone because only they can ask for help if they are experiencing difficulties.
Throughout the North Allegheny School District, there are many mental health resources for students. There are many developmental services provided to students, such as the counselors who reside in each school, school psychological services who collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals, and the 211 phone service that operates 24/7 through call, text, and chat to help students find essential help.
When it comes to therapy and medication, these resources will only do so much, and it is important to be honest about the severity of what you are going through. It is already difficult to treat something a doctor or psychiatrist/psychologist can’t see or experience, so honesty about the disorder and how it affects daily activities is important to share with those who surround you in your everyday life.
Because of my personal struggle from mental health disorders, I have become somewhat knowledgeable on the topic. However, I by no means have the answers to all of these complex diseases. I am surrounded by hundreds of classmates and friends during my day at school, coworkers and customers at my place of work, and family when I come home from a long day — but even surrounded by all of these people in my life, I constantly feel alone.
That loneliness, however, is only a feeling, and the reality is there are so many people and resources to help those who struggle internally. In an effort to protect and assist those with mental health challenges, you could research different illnesses along with the signs and symptoms, reach out to those who are struggling to let them know they are not alone, and even volunteer with different mental health lifelines to assist those who reach out for help. Never let someone struggle alone.
If you or someone you love is experiencing severe mental health episodes that may be concerning, call the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline for additional help.
