Mental Health and Wellness at School by Khadeeja

Mental Health and Wellness at School by Khadeeja - June 2025 Scholarship Essay

Student suicides, school shootings, drug abuse, and bullying plague U.S. schools and societies. The explanation for these harsh aspects of school communities boils down to one part of the human body: the mind. Though schools were created to strengthen the mind, the more delicate part of the mind remains neglected.
According to the CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, over 40% of U.S. high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and nearly 10% attempted suicide. These are not small numbers; they point to a nationwide emergency. Bullying alone increases the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior by nearly three times, and yet many students are never taught how to process emotions, handle conflict, or ask for help. Instead, they silently carry emotional weight that eventually shows up as violence, substance abuse, or self-harm.
A dedicated wellness class could give students tools to navigate stress, recognize mental health warning signs in themselves and others, and practice healthy coping strategies. Like math and reading, emotional literacy is a skill that can protect lives, build empathy, and create safer, more supportive school environments. Without it, we risk continuing to treat the symptoms while ignoring the cause.
Making mental health and wellness a required class isn’t just about preventing tragedy; it’s about giving students the chance to understand themselves and others. It’s about teaching that strength doesn’t mean staying silent, and that seeking help is a skill, not a weakness. If schools are truly meant to prepare students for the future, they must prioritize the health of the whole student, not just their test scores. These students are the future of our nation; we must focus on the core of every student in order to create a thriving society.