Mental Health Through Elective Classes by Kaden

Mental Health Through Elective Classes by Kaden - February 2022 Scholarship Essay

Mental health is a real struggle these days. Living through a pandemic, dealing with social injustices, and dealing with the world as it is in general today has really brought an excess of mental health issues to the surface. As a senior in my local public high school, there is a lot of talk about mental health and the resources out there and teachers are trying to do their part in their respective classes. There is not an avenue in my high school today to take a class that is directly made to focus on your mental health or how to help others with their mental health. If I had the opportunity to create an elective class, I would have a mental health class to allow people to take it and use it as they see fit. With what is going on in the world, and what I know about my high school and its students, I think a lot of people would be interested in this class.

In high school, you are required to take health. In this health class there is discussion about mental health, however it is a small focus of the health class overall. Health is only a one semester class and is required for the first two years of school. Right now, mental health should have a stronger focus, especially with young people. If my high school provided a class to focus on this, I think it would have a strong showing of interest from the student body. The benefits of this class could be huge. It would allow students an avenue to focus on things that can help their own mental health, it could also help guide you to ways where you could help others. I also think that mental health has had a stigma in the past that we are slowly trying to overcome. Having the option for a class, seeing others take it, and learning that it’s okay to focus on mental health could provide benefits for our youth of years into their future.

Two weeks ago, we had a student in my high school commit suicide, it really impacted the entire student body, including those that did not know her. I have a close friend struggling from anxiety and some depression, he is currently seeing a therapist and taking medication for his struggles. Everywhere we turn, we are seeing young people struggling with issues of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and lacking the social interaction that they need. We need to find additional ways to help people struggling with mental health. Kids are under a lot of pressure these days, and I think if they can connect with like minded people through a mental health class, it could go along way to helping them overcome some of their struggles, in realizing they are not alone, and understanding there is help out there for them. This could be a safe way for them to reach out for help when they previously didn’t think they could.

In general, the mental health awareness out there right now is getting better, but I think we can still do more. Therefore, I think an elective class could be the next step in high schools to build awareness early. Like I said, in my high school, especially with what has happened recently, I think it would have a huge showing. We are seeing the need for help, the need to help others, and the desire to take better care of ourselves. We have learned it’s okay to do this, so let’s give our youth more avenues to do so. I know I would take the class.