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The Importance of Mental Health and Where to Get Help

Written by: Allison Custer & Tylar Sampson

In recent years, more progress has been made towards mental health awareness and acknowledging the important role it plays in our lives. Mental health affects how you think, feel, and act, and effects your everyday life, whether you’re connecting with others, making decisions, or handling stress.

It’s important to pay attention to and take care of your mental health like you would for your physical health. But what should you do if you’re struggling to handle your mental stresses on your own? Where can you ask for help? Luckily, there are some helpful resources you can turn to for mental health support right here at the high school!

Depending on your needs, there are different resources you can reach out to. If you have scheduling concerns or if you’re a senior and need help with the college application process, a quick and easy place to go would be your school counselor. If you’re looking to get help for mental stresses, there are two state certified mental health advisors at MHS, Mr. Blue and Ms. Gardner. Mr. Blue stated, “If there’s a student in that position that maybe they’re a little hesitant, maybe a safe way for them would be to just email one of us (referring to himself and Ms. Gardner).”

Sometimes just talking to someone can help release bottled up emotions, and they can help by offering an outside perspective. Our mental health advisors can even help refer students and families to mental health agencies outside of the school that can provide even further evaluations, advice, and care for those in need.

Mr. Blue explained, “if [students] need a referral outside to another agency, [he and Mrs. Gardner] are pretty good at knowing which agencies are good to go to, who’s taking clients, who’s not taking clients, and what agencies to steer away from.” Information shared with mental health advisors at school will remain confidential unless they feel you or others are at risk for harm. More information about outside agencies can be provided by Ms. Gardner, feel free to stop by her office in Green Admin and ask for a handout.

Another place to go if you or someone you know is struggling is the school's HOPE Squad. HOPE Squad is a group of students here at the high school dedicated to helping their peers that may be dealing with mental stress or mental illness. Mr. Blue explained how HOPE Squad can be a helpful resource for students because, “students might reach out to other students before they could reach out to an adult.”

HOPE Squad is there to make students more comfortable by allowing them a safe space to speak with another student that recognizes and understands signs of struggle. Erin Block, a senior HOPE Squad member explained, “The students in Hope squad at our school were nominated by their peers as people they trusted to talk to. They come to school every day just like a normal student and they are always on alert for people who may be acting different to get them the help that they need.”

HOPE Squad meeting in the Zen Den. Students pictured: Andrew Boughter, Aaron Swihart, Abraham Maxwell, Stella Burns, Ryleigh Goldmeier, Victoria Barth, Paul Ceccoli, Avery Henry, Hannah Fox, Addison Sherman, Lauren Kadlec, Ella Dicola.

When asked about reaching out to members of HOPE Squad, Erin also said it might be easier to reach out to another student instead of going straight to a teacher. She said, “Its different when it’s student to student versus student to teacher because when you’re student to student you can relate to each other more.” More information about HOPE Squad and who’s involved can be found on posters hung up around the school hallways, and cafeteria.

The Zen Den is home to many fun and relaxing activities!

The Zen Den is another great place to go to manage stress or anxiety or if you need a period of quiet away from the regular routine of school. Additionally, there are meetings with counselors and HOPE Squad every week or so to provide a safe and comfortable place for students to talk about various issues they might be dealing with, one of the biggest being grief, so be on the lookout during the morning announcements for when these meetings are being held.

Outside of personal meetings, the Zen Den is open Monday through Thursday during all class periods, so if you need somewhere to relax and escape for a minute, ask your teacher to write you a pass and come on down.

When asked about reaching out for help with mental health struggles, Mr. Blue stated the importance of reaching out even though it can be hard. He goes on to explain that “when someone is at a point where they’ve gotta reach out, reaching out to someone for help is usually a very difficult step for people.” Taking that first step and reaching out or admitting that you’re struggling is oftentimes the hardest thing someone will have to do in order to recover, but once you take that first step it becomes a lot easier to get help.

Mr. Blue also said it’s important that the students at Medina are there for each other, and “listening is an underestimated skill set. If people can learn to listen to others instead of talk to others, I think it benefits everybody, just learning how to listen and be heard.”

The Zen Den also provides a safe space for those in need to relax and talk whatever they may be feeling or experiencing out.

Mental health can be a very difficult subject for many young people dealing with mental stressors or mental illness which can make reaching out and talking to someone a difficult choice to make. Some might say that needing help means you're weak and can't handle it on your own or if you talk to someone they'll think you're crazy but in the wise words of Mr. Blue, "It doesn't mean you’re crazy or you have a problem, and that's often the case with emotional things. We figure if we can’t fix it ourselves then we have a problem… that’s not the case at all.”

Here at the high school, we have many resources to help students and their families get through hard times and rough patches. Asking for help or admitting your struggles is a huge step towards recovery.

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