World Mental Health Day: Mental Health During Online School

October 10th was World Mental Health Day, a day for people to become more informed about the importance of mental health and to help erase the stigma surrounding it.  Countless mental health organizations, such as the World Federation for Mental Health, are working to convey the message that mental health is just like physical health and that people with mental illness should not be viewed any differently than people with physical ailments.  It is just as critical to take care of our mental health as it is to take care of our physical health.  Just as there is no shame in going to a doctor if one has a cold, there should be no shame in going to a therapist if one feels depressed.

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a significant uptick in mental health issues.  According to the Center for Disease Control, 40% of US adults reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse during June 2020.  Whether people lost family members, friends, jobs, or their senses of security and stability, the pandemic impacted everyone in some way.  This is why it is especially important to talk about mental health now.  

Mental health issues do not just impact adults.  According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 10-20% of adolescents (age 10-19) experience mental health conditions that remain undiagnosed and untreated.  The WHO also concluded that suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15-19-year-olds.  As revealed by these statistics, it is vital for teens to be educated on mental health so that the stigma is broken.  If teens are better informed, they are more likely to talk about their feelings, recognize mental health issues they may have, and seek treatment.

With changes in schooling due to the Coronavirus, teen mental health is even more vulnerable.  New Rochelle High School is holding fully remote classes until November 9th, when they will begin a hybrid model.  Even during the hybrid model, students will be at home for three or four days a week.  This social isolation takes a toll on mental health.  

NRHS students are using different methods to maintain their mental health and take a break from their computer screens.  Some students choose exercise, a good way to stay physically and mentally fit.  Others enjoy reading for pleasure or taking long showers.  Some students are lucky enough to have access to mental health care and attend therapy sessions.  Chris Fernandez copes with online school by “taking it one day at a time.”  Faith Cerbo tries to stay off of social media to lower her stress levels.  Sarah Hernandez meditates before going to bed at night.  Isabel Camara makes sure to give herself “breaks between classwork, studying, and college apps.”  She has also stopped doing schoolwork while she eats to use that time for personal enjoyment.  Nila Roper reported that “the lack of social interaction has definitely impacted [her] mood” and she is not alone in that feeling. 

Although World Mental Health Day has recently passed, people should always be mindful that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of.  Everyone struggles with their mental health in some way, and it is something people should be open to discussing.