Is it Possible Schools Are Focusing Too Much on Mental Health?
Schools becoming alarmed by high levels of distress and self-harm, are introducing preventive coursework in emotional self-regulation and mindfulness. Subsequently, some researchers warn that we are at risk of overdoing it. Schools may be focusing too much on mental health, and it is causing students and youth to go farther into a downfall.
This is becoming a bigger issue for students, especially surrounding depression and anxiety. Guidance counselors focusing too much on each youth’s mental health, that some studies are suggesting it is making it worse. Recently, mental health has become a central subject in childhood and adolescence.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It often affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Furthermore, mental health is important at any stage during life. During the course of life, we will experience many different stages of mental health.
Sadness, happiness, and many more feelings all have a role in mental health, all of them being a huge part in how your mental health is on a day-to-day basis. Tons of people struggle with mental illnesses, which stems from the health of our mind.
What Are Some Examples of Mental Illnesses?
- Antisocial Personality Disorder.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
- Suicide and suicidal behavior.
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
- Anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety, panic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, and social anxiety).
- Eating disorders (including Anorexia Nervosa, binge eating Disorder, and Bulimia Nervosa).
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Schizophrenia.
- Depression.
- Self-harm.
- Bipolar disorder.
There are always resources available to someone struggling with any of the above list and many options to consider. Subsequently, it is imperative not to suffer in silence.
More Information on Schools Causing a Harder Time for Youth
There is evidence heightened awareness and focus on mental health is having the opposite effect and isn’t helping children at all but is making anxiety and depression worse. Schools have been focusing too much on one’s problems and diagnosis. Sadly, it is becoming harder for youth to cope and find ways to deal with the issues.
Written by Key Robertson
Sources:
The New York Times: Are We Talking Too Much About Mental Health?
Daily Mail: How mindfulness and therapy may be making our children MORE depressed and anxious
The New York Times: A Fresh Approach to a Crisis
Featured Image Courtesy of U.S Embassy and Counseling’s Flickr Page – Public Domain License
Inset Image Courtesy of Fons Heijnsbroek’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
