How We Can Understand and Mitigate School-Related Stress & Anxiety
For many students in American high schools, it’s common to relate to videos regarding stress and anxiety induced by school that appear on social media feeds while aimlessly scrolling on apps like TikTok and Instagram. Students constantly place high expectations on themselves, expecting to manage everything all at once. Many students may struggle with mental health without acknowledging it. We are told that school is difficult, or that we are simply going through a rough week. This reminder from either our peers and supervisors that school is always difficult may take away from acknowledging the fact that our brains need a break. What happens to our mental health in the long-term when our minds are under constant stress? According to the World Health Organization, “[the] consequences of failing to address adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults” (World Health Organizations). If students continue to ignore their mental health while attempting to push through countless difficult, over-scheduled weeks of school and activities, their mental health will deteriorate until their body has become accustomed to it. This continuation will ultimately damage quality of life and inhibit healthy functioning as an adult. Tragically, 22% of teens have seriously considered attempting suicide (American Psychological Association). Considering and/or attempting suicide can be linked to academic stress, loneliness, difficult home situations, and many more factors.
Students should feel comfortable to openly talk about and take care of their mental state in order to prevent their mental health from deteriorating in the future. Cultural and financial pressures on young people to pursue success, prestige, and self-improvement are higher than ever; the Adolescent Wellness Academy reports that “[t]eens today are under significantly higher pressure to perform academically and in extra-curricular settings. School and other activities, such as sports, can be a huge source of stress and lead to mental health problems” (Adolescent Wellness Academy). Students may feel constant high stress when trying to balance their ambitious goals. Many students do not understand when it is okay to take a mental health break for the sake of their well-being. It is possible that some may even end up feeling guilty even when taking a break from their homework for a mere 10 to 15 minutes. Schools should begin to emphasize that healthy work-life balance and taking breaks are necessary to thrive in school, and it is okay to not achieve every academic goal one has set for themselves. Getting rest and sleep is also critical for preventing short- and long-term mental health issues. In order to inform more students about the severity of mental health issues and how to create a buffer against them, both schools and students can hold assemblies, clubs, and events that spread awareness of mental health and how to properly nurture it.
