Mental Health in Schools: We’re Doing it Wrong | Maya Dawson | TEDxYouth@CherryCreek

Summary

This heartfelt and impactful script discusses the personal struggles of navigating mental health issues in high school. The speaker reflects on their own experiences and the challenges faced by friends and peers dealing with anxiety, depression, and suicide. The script highlights the urgent need for accessible mental health support in schools, emphasizing that current resources are often inadequate. It advocates for integrating mental health education into regular classroom settings to reduce stigma and provide students with tools to better understand and manage their emotions, ultimately fostering a healthier and more supportive environment for youth.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mental health awareness has been a long-standing challenge, with the speaker reflecting on their personal struggle to express emotions from a young age.
• 😀 Many students face mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, and these challenges often go unaddressed until a crisis occurs.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health proactively, rather than waiting for students to reach a breaking point.
• 😀 Schools are beginning to hire more therapists and introduce programs for free counseling, but these efforts are still not sufficient to meet the needs of all students.
• 😀 Mental health services in schools are often not accessible to all students due to logistical challenges such as needing to leave class and arrange transportation.
• 😀 Students are expected to advocate for their own mental health, which is a difficult task for many who have never learned how to do so.
• 😀 The speaker calls for a more integrated approach to mental health in schools, particularly by incorporating mental health education into the classroom setting.
• 😀 Teaching students about their brain chemistry and emotions in science classes can help them better understand and regulate their mental health.
• 😀 Mental health support should be integrated into regular classroom activities, rather than treated as a separate or punitive experience during study hall or seminar periods.
• 😀 By normalizing mental health conversations and making resources more accessible, students will be empowered to advocate for their own well-being and better manage adversity.

Q & A

What is the significance of the drawing of the blender in the speaker's childhood?

The drawing of the blender represents the speaker's early struggles to express their emotions, symbolizing the confusion and difficulty of understanding their own feelings at a young age.

How did the speaker react to their friend's revelation about self-harm in middle school?

The speaker laughed because they once again lacked the words to address their own mental health and the mental health of others, reflecting their discomfort and inability to process such serious issues at the time.

What has been the impact of mental health struggles among the speaker's peers in high school?

The speaker has witnessed their friends battling anxiety and depression, dropping out of school, and even attempting suicide, which highlights the severity of mental health issues affecting students.

What statistics are mentioned to show the rising mental health crisis among students?

The script mentions that my generation has the highest suicide rates since World War II, and one in three students reports persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, a 40% increase from 2009.

What steps are being taken to address the mental health crisis in schools?

Schools are hiring more therapists, and various organizations and political parties are offering programs to provide free counseling for youth. However, these efforts are still insufficient.

What challenges do students face when seeking mental health support in schools?

Students often need to leave class, make up work, or arrange rides with parents who may not be able to accommodate, creating barriers to accessing timely support.

Why does the speaker argue that mental health should be integrated into the classroom?

The speaker believes that integrating mental health education in the classroom would provide students with the tools to better understand and process their emotions, promoting healthier emotional regulation and support.

How can teaching about neurochemistry in science classes help students with mental health?

By teaching students about the way their brains work, including neurochemistry, they would better understand their emotions and mental health, leading to better emotional awareness and self-regulation.

What is the problem with how mental health support is currently offered in schools?

Mental health support is often seen as a punishment because it takes away valuable time from students' academic or social activities, which creates a negative association with mental health resources.

What change does the speaker advocate for in how mental health is treated in schools?

The speaker advocates for the integration of mental health education into regular classrooms to make mental health support more accessible, normalize it, and encourage students to take care of their mental well-being.