Should schools create support groups for those individuals that suffer from mental illness?

Students suffer from external conflicts whether they're clinically diagnosed or not. Schools should become more aware of their students' mental wellbeing because the reasoning behind behavior or lack of performance should be acknowledged.

*Establishing the importance of mental health is the objective. Students nationwide have their own personal problems; therefore, bringing awareness is the best option in this situation*

Teenagers uniting to support one another

Main Topics:

  • Mental disorders are criticized and stereotyped

  • School is toxic to students' mental health

  • Students have a hard time dealing with mental health and their academics

  • Students deserve a voice

  • Teachers and staff need to bring awareness

88% of the students agree that support groups in schools will potentially change an individual's life.

Mental health plays a huge factor within teenagers. A survey conducted upon students themselves provides insight on this controversial topic. A diverse group of Curie High School students responded with a simple yes or no to support groups in schools. 22 out of the 25 students responded yes; meanwhile, 3 out of 25 said no.

Interview with Issac Reyes

A current Curie High School student shares his own personal story with mental health issues and how it weighs heavily in school. Issac Reyes claims, "It is important to validate feelings and emotions because you want students to always be in the right mindset when attending school. " In the interview, the honesty within Issac's statements shows vulnerability and truthfulness; he emphasizes on the stress that school puts on teenagers. Conveying that having mental issues and the pressure of school has provoked a lack of motivation towards homework and grades. Therefore, support groups in schools would be extremely beneficial to the vast majority. Overall, his personal experience shows how mentality contributes to work ethic and behavior in school.

Personal Opinion

Although support groups can be stress-provoking, nevertheless, schools need to intervene and arrange a guidance service because undiagnosed issues could be mental illnesses, can cause more damage to everyday life and help can make it more bearable. Schools claim to want the best for their students and preach that they care for their students' mental health, but in reality it's just an act. Sadly, students struggle badly with their mental health — some more than others— but their efforts aren't acknowledged. The way I see it, schools need to improve their ways because students have a life outside of school, as well, and it's not easy.

Based on personal experience, there were times where I physically couldn't complete any assignments because of how exhausted I felt mentally. There was only one teacher that understood my situation and reached out to further see if I needed guidance or any help. On the contrary, my other teachers didn't care at all. Being able to notice signs and encourage that it's okay to speak up is necessary in a school environment.

Society's stigma on mental health has been extremely stereotyped and misunderstood. Mental disorders are portrayed as “insanity” or “sick” and personal issues as irrelevant until it reaches a concerning extreme. Those individuals that have constant battles with themselves aren't crazy; the commonality has only increased. The overall goal is to stabilize young adults in the natural setting where they already are; schools prioritizing health will give students a safety net. Support groups need to be a course of action provided in schools, and survey results show that 88% of students agreed that support groups should be provided. Meanwhile, 12% said that it would be a hard thing for students to do. Although support groups can be stress-provoking, nevertheless, schools need to intervene and arrange a guidance service because undiagnosed issues could be mental illnesses, can cause more damage to everyday life and help can make it more bearable.


In today’s generation, mental health is ridiculed by society, which is progressively getting worse. Many adults tend to ignore how teenagers are at a higher risk of developing a mental illness, or that these young adults already have one; multiple disorders in one person are very common. Schools are known for education, but it also includes pressure and stress, which is why all staff should establish a safe environment for their students. Pinpointing individuals that truly need support is difficult, so it’s good to reassure everyone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “13 percent of children ages 8 to 15 have a diagnosable mental health disorder… Each day, about 20 percent of the millions of children attending school are struggling with a mental health disorder. And yet, many of them suffer in silence.“ (Hurley, Katie) Schools worldwide don’t realize the harm that mental disorders can do to a teen, it's not just an internal battle, but meeting the expected standard in one’s academics is overwhelming. The list of mental illnesses is endless, but the most popular one is depression; therefore, ignoring the potential signs can lead to suicide. A nonchalant mistake can take a life, which is why schools can’t care more about letter grades and assignments. Research indicated that “An increasing number of California students said they had suicidal thoughts. Some students simply vanished from schools’ radars by not logging into classes or responding to emails, texts or phone calls.“ (Jones, Carolyn) Based on this study, it’s obvious that teenagers are exhausted from life, including school. One’s mind isn’t escapable; it’s important to discuss the possibility of support groups in school; it can be a life-changing experience.


A healthy environment consists of surroundings that actually bring peace and provide calmness. School systems mainly concentrate on the materialistic aspect of education and it’s a huge contributing factor towards the reasoning behind a teens mental health. Embarking on a new perspective will provoke a sense of community within the students themselves. Support groups will be a journey for both students and staff members. A majority will argue that counseling and these support groups are the same thing, but in reality it’s not. Counselor sessions are 1 on 1, usually involving students showing their vulnerability and actually taking action towards their emotions. A Wilder School therapist had a conversation with a teenage girl having a hard time. She asks “Am I broken? I told her, ‘You have a story and it deserves to be heard. You can share it with me. You don’t have to keep it to yourself alone. Using trauma-focused therapy, we wrote her story in two versions. She asked me to print her power story for her. ‘I need to frame that and hang it in my bedroom,’ she said… I need my room to be safe for me again.” (“Mental Health Services On-Site”) Teenagers are feeling very alone and trapped nowadays and it’s becoming a serious problem. Support groups are direct and self-fulfilling : involving 10 or more individuals within the venting session. Many closed-off individuals wouldn’t like to participate in this activity, but overall it's been found to be very helpful in most cases. Typically, support groups revolve around medical issues, domestic abuse, or disorders in general. Suppose that these support groups did exist in schools; the assumption is that only students will learn from this experience, but that’s not the case. In addition “Teachers will gain more knowledge and techniques to provide for their students and themselves. Schools can be a huge help for students’ personal growth.” (“Mental Health Services On-Site”) Paying more attention to mental health in support groups — if this action is official— will be a huge stepping stone for students, staff members, principals, and teachers. The impact could change the way we view those who are seen as “stupid” or “crazy” because the truth behind mental disorders is that these issues aren’t just psychological; they're biological.


Anyone can develop a mental illness; psychological issues have no specific age limit or range. Adults, teenagers, and even children are being affected by these disorders. It’s been proven that those who struggle financially are symptoms of poverty. According to research, one's income has a huge impact on mental health. “In fact, multiple studies have shown that low-income adults can be up to twice as likely to have mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression compared to higher-income individuals. And yet, less than 15% of children in low-income communities in need of mental health care actually receive services.” (Sauceda, Marlena) Furthermore, the root behind people’s mental illnesses are for the most part unknown; trying to figure out the trigger is tricky. Talking about one’s emotions accurately and honestly is difficult, which is why it’s harder to manage and control mental health. In addition, school counselors are paid to help these young minds cope, but it isn’t necessarily useful. If an individual overshares too much, parents would have to be notified. Parental intervention won’t help these young adults cope, especially when teenagers are making an effort to express themselves. Trying to heal hurt and pain is not a linear process; it’s a rollercoaster of emotions and obstacles. Therefore, support groups will really aid teenagers, and a study showed that “It was the team approach the school used to help each child thrive. All faculty members worked together to create an atmosphere of support. Teachers formed solid connections with their students, and were trained to spot signs that a child is struggling. If something seemed amiss, teachers worked with the therapy staff to figure out the best way to help the student. In a small school with plenty of resources, this model worked. For many schools, however, this simply isn’t a reality.” (Sauceda, Marlena) The constant spiraling thoughts revolving around their minds are overwhelming, and the urge to stop it is stressful. Support groups will give students an outlet from life; it will give them a distraction. Not only will these individuals be able to speak freely about how they feel, but they will also get the chance to interact with others and make acquaintances.

In conclusion, teens are more prone to developing a mental illness than adults; therefore, it is critical for schools to understand these students. Improving students’ education and environment will only help these individuals grow. Living up to the standard that mental disorders are stupid will only make students feel more alone, and that isn’t the impact that we need in our upcoming generation. Any type of mental service, whether it be an actual course or a support group, it would tremendously ease the internal battles happening within them. Mental health has already been diminished into the society view of it being a call for attention, teaching young adults to help themselves and others will evolve the psychodynamic view on mental well-being.

https://edsource.org/2021/why-mental-health-is-the-key-to-dealing-with-learning-loss/653087 , Accessed March 8, 2022.