2022 Mental Health Essay Contest Awardee: Bronze

It Starts in Schools: How to Solve Our Mental Health Problem

Huda, North Carolina

I stared blankly down at a strip of paper in health class one day, baffled at what I saw. It was the end of our mental health awareness unit, and the school required us to fill out a short form at the conclusion. The form was merely one question: “Have you had serious thoughts about committing suicide?” with small “yes” or “no” options below. I thought about my friend who had recently told me about her panic attacks, how they suddenly seized her and left her unable to do anything else. I thought about the days I felt so drained of life that I could barely get out words, or the days my heart beat so fast out of anxiety I would vomit. I thought of how someone who actually had suicidal thoughts might feel like their thoughts weren’t “serious” enough and they didn’t warrant a check in the yes box. For all of the complex mental illnesses we had been taught about, the course’s main lesson seemed to be summed up in one measly piece of paper that didn’t capture any realities of the situation.

After class that day, I overheard two teachers talking in low voices about a student at a local middle school who had committed suicide. “No one saw it coming,” one of them said in a hushed tone. Thinking back to the survey, I wondered how anyone in school could reasonably see these things “coming” if those were the kinds of tools used for mental health screening. This thought, however, didn’t leave my mind. Instead, I started researching mental health questionnaires, looking for some way to make our school’s system better. After lots of searching and an interview with a psychiatrist, I managed to code a website that would ask meaningful questions, questions that had been clinically proven to help identify mental health issues. I showed some of my friends, who agreed that the website made them feel heard and willing to open up about their mental health.

Eagerly, I scheduled a meeting with a school administrator, wanting to show her the website and ask if anything similar to it could be implemented. I came armed with both anecdotes and data that proved our current system wasn’t working for us, but the meeting left me discouraged. While the school administrator agreed that mental health issues were becoming an epidemic among teens, she responded that there simply was no time for school officials to evaluate these kinds of surveys, that the one-question, “yes” or “no” surveys would have to suffice.

In the few years since I had that meeting, the mental health of my peers has only gone downwards. With the pandemic and school shootings defining our high school careers, teenagers’ mental health in America has reached dangerous levels. Yet, the obstacle that is a lack of resources remains, creating a hurdle between teenagers and our access to mental health care. I believe that more funding should be allotted towards installing dedicated mental health counselors in schools. Additionally, I think that implementing mental health questionnaires based on research would ensure that no teen’s mental troubles are ever obscured or forgotten. These questionnaires could be disseminated through simple smartphone apps, meeting teenagers where we feel the most comfortable, and streamlining the process with technology. Responses could be easily analyzed and students could be connected with resources for help and guidance. Even the presence of a mental health counselor and a detailed survey alone would help teenagers feel more cared for in their schools, which is key because it is a persistent feeling of isolation that often prevents teenagers from seeking help.

Schools are places where students should feel safe and comfortable enough to ask for help. By using simple technology and dedicating time toward impactful mental health screening, schools can truly serve students and assist them in living happier, healthier lives.

NIH recognizes these talented essay winners for their thoughtfulness and creativity in addressing youth mental health. These essays are written in the students' own words, are unedited, and do not necessarily represent the views of NIH, HHS, or the federal government.

Page updated September 20, 2022