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Importance of Educating Adolescents about Mental Well-being in Schools

Importance of Educating Adolescents about Mental Well-being in Schools



X was only ten when he started feeling miserable all the time. He felt disconnected from other children and empty. He suffered alone and even switched schools, but that did not help. It was only when he was 14 that he told his mother what was going on.
He was diagnosed with major depression and anxiety and was able to receive treatment. His story reveals the difficulty which young people experience when it comes to speaking out about their mental health issues.
As problems related to psychological well-being often crop up during the early teenage and adolescence years, it is obvious that mental health education must begin during this age. Also, as teenagers spend most of their time in schools, it is palpable that mental health education must begin in schools.


Many stigmas & misconceptions related to adolescent mental well being still exist in our society.
The breaking down of stigma and misconceptions about mental illness has to start in schools because a school is where teens hone their sense of self-worth.
It’s also the place where children need to learn that their behavior towards others can cause serious self-worth issues. At schools, children face many challenges. Some are better at managing these than others.
Many children experience anxiety, ranging from mild to severe, even manifesting as panic attacks in certain extreme cases. When these symptoms are ignored, they can lead to depression, performance issues and an increased risk of substance use/abuse.

The influence of social media on mental health

The upside of social media is that teens are hardwired to socialize, and social media makes it easy and immediate. Teens in marginalized groups may find it easier to make friends and find support. The negative facet is that someone’s reputation can be destroyed in minutes on social networking platforms and he/she may face the consequences for years.

The importance of early intervention

Some signs exhibited by adolescents which call for action by adults are thoughts of detachment, uneasiness, abnormal behavior, withdrawal, mood fluctuations and failure to perform well at academics.

Adding mental health education to the curriculum

If every student and staff member in all the schools across the world shall understand the importance of mental well-being, and will encourage young students in their teenage & adolescence phases of life to speak up about whatever is troubling them emotionally or psychologically, teenagers & adolescents in all schools shall feel entitled to engaging in dialogue and opening up about mental health issues which are harrowing them. Students will then let go of the stigma associated with speaking up about mental illnesses and will freely interact with their parents at home and teachers/counselors at school about issues troubling them, whether they are related to bullying, low grades, peer pressure, family problems or other such factors, before the situation gets out of hand.

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