Ted Talk’s for Mental Health Awareness by Jaden

Ted Talk’s for Mental Health Awareness by Jaden - July 2017 Scholarship Essay

For some people the first steps into high school, is like the anxiety that is felt after hearing the ring of the bell to start a boxing match. Teachers are like boxing coaches. They utilize freshman year to teach students about surviving high school academically; however, they neglect the procedure for dealing with ongoing internal breakdowns. Much like, a boxing coach who focuses fighting in a match, but not dealing with problems in the real world. If I had a Ted Talk, it would be about maintaining a healthy mental state in high school.
Having awareness of the importance mental health has can promote mental stability, which acts as a preventive method for later depression. For example, suicide can play as a side effect of depression. The suicide rate increased greatly within thirty years. According to the New York Times, the suicide rate for men and women has risen by twenty-four percent from 1999-2014. Practicing proper mental health techniques can persuade a hopeful mindset, and prevent life threating thoughts. Also, many individuals feel the pressures of life starting in their teen years. Reports show that mismanaged stress develops between ages thirteen to nineteen. In August of 2013, approximately three thousand people report that unhealthy behaviors associated with stress begin at a young age (American Psychological Association). As studies show, most people lack the education of how to handle the stress that occurs. Addressing how to deal with stress when it first starts, can fight depression. Practicing healthy habits of tackling stress can cause for good mental health later in life. Additionally, depression affects many in various ways. For example, depression can affect a person’s relationship with their family and peers (National Institute of Mental Health). A person who has depression experiences a disconnect with the people around them. Although the detection of this is not always easy to spot, a person has a lack of interests in pursuing hobbies and connections with people; expressing these feelings may cause that person to become a burden. Practicing healthy relationships begin during grade school, especially high school. Therefore, the duty of teaching high schoolers how to address stress should be handled through educating a mass majority. Teaching the public on prevention matters for mental health starting with the youth, is noteworthy of a Ted Talk.
The benefits of good mental health in high school demands recognition, because poor mental health acts as a villain to a person’s academic career. According to NPR, “...in a school classroom of twenty-five students, five of them may be struggling with the same issues many adults deal with: depression, anxiety, substance abuse…” (Anderson and Cardoza). In other words, in about an average sized classroom, five percent of the students struggle with mental health issues. The students affected by this widespread problem suffer with grades decreasing, loss of motivation, and are forced to withstand problems the average adult may face in a lifetime. As a result, a student who once was considered above average, can easily fall under the curve due to a serious health issue that is greater than themselves. Many students currently suffering need assistance; the public should be informed about the matter, so students suffering gain support.  To follow up, even if the student’s poor mental health state receives attention “...the children do go to school. And the problems they face can tie into major problems found in schools: chronic absence, low achievement, disruptive behavior and dropping out” (Anderson and Cardoza). Adults may become aware of the teen’s condition, but without the proper tools to take action, the child still faces the symptoms associated with inadequate emotional instability. Mental health awareness should become an open discussion, because students need help. Lastly, I relate personally to this case, because I suffered intensely during my junior year. Before entering my junior year of high school, I was an A student and was heavily invested into extra curricular activities, like softball. The stress the importance junior year had took a dramatic toll on me: my grades dropped, I grew less interested in social activities, I was not getting a sufficient amount of sleep, and I lost a lot of hope for things to get better. Discussing this topic with friends, opened my eyes to how common unbalanced mental states have become among my peers. Many confessed to having to see therapists regularly or taking medications.
Mental health continues to be the new matter people face, which begins in the early stages of life; a Ted Talk would bring awareness to the subject. Suffering students across the nation need attention and support. Our students need help, and it may require a victim to the fight with mental instability to advocate for the cause.