Throughout the past 30 years, technology has been on a steady increase. Ever since the invention of the smartphone, computer, and internet, information is just a few clicks away for students. Because of this increase of access, the expectations are raised for how much students need to know. Especially in in math and science classes, there is a large amount of content students are expected to know and memorize, including things they have learned from years in the past. This is issue is that for many students, instead of learning and processing for the test, all they do is try to cram the night before to memorize all that they need for the test. According to “When Anxiety Hits at School”, “With the rise in the digital world, kids often feel rushed and pressured.” The article also talks about how colleges are becoming more selective and that is putting higher pressure on students to do well in classes, receive high test scores and GPA. The stakes and expectations are increasing and with all of this to think about, students are becoming anxious and stressed.  This all is part of the contribution of the issue of poor mental health in high schools. 

 For college applications, there is pressure to have a certain amount of extracurricular activities. Whether this be clubs, sports, or community service; student participation is encouraged. Although this involvement is positive, it takes up time. For students who have 3 hours of homework a night, it’s hard to find a balance. In “Is the Drive for Success Making Our Children Sick?”  it states “Our kids march through hours of nightly homework, daily sports practices and band rehearsals, and weekend-consuming assignments and tournaments. Each activity is seen as a step on the ladder to a top college, an enviable job and a successful life.” This shows that to keep up with a college standard, students have to balance many activities on top of school work. With all of this work that needs to be done, it affects student’s sleeping patterns and help. The article also states that the “vast majority of American teenagers get at least two hours less sleep each night than recommended — and research shows the more homework they do, the fewer hours they sleep” (Abeles).This imbalance of activities is not helping, but hurting kids. This is part of the reason why high schools damage the mental health of students. 

 Although there is an increase in the amount of students struggling with mental health and anxiety, there is still a stigma around it. “Mental Health in Schools: A Hidden Crisis Affecting Millions of Students” is an article done by NPR. It explains that “In a school classroom of 25 students, five of them may be struggling with the same issues many adults deal with: depression, anxiety, substance abuse… but nearly 80 percent who need mental health services won’t get them.” Many students who struggle with mental health issues or anxiety do not feel that they have a safe space in their school where they are comfortable talking about their feelings. This is because many schools “have a lack of resources.” This could mean either the school doesn’t have enough people who can do the job of helping students or the ones who can aren’t fully helpful. But it is not only the job of the educators; everyone has a role. Families, teachers, school psychologists and any other important people in someone’s life can be responsible for keeping track and noticing any changes in behavior. According to “Mental Health in Schools”, many times these people don’t know their role and therefore can’t help. This is why high schools have a negative effect on mental health and anxiety. 

Regardless of the reason, mental health is in high schools for students. Schools have started professional development for school social workers and psychologists to help focus on this increasing problem. To attack the issue, people have started working together to create a space where students can come to talk and feel comfortable.

work, study, sleep.

 

I have no time

to finish a rhyme,

to busy am I

trying to get by

With a monstrous load of Composition. 

 

Work, study, sleep

work, study, sleep.

 

why can't you see

that I would far rather be

out on the town

or just fooling around

with those whom I call "friends"?

 

work, study, sleep,

work, study, sleep.

 

"it's a dog-eat-dog world, you see"

you turn and say to me,

"This is why

You must try

to learn in such a chaotic pack."

 

work, study, sleep,

work, study, sleep.

 

"If you could take your time,

everyone would do fine. 

What would there be to teach?

thus, I must make you reach,

to see who will still be elite."

 

work, study, sleep,

work, study, sleep.

 

And so I behold

The chilling cold

concept that children call "school"

Which is in all ways a ghoul,

Where it is an all-or-nothing bloodbath

 

For the ones who thrive. 

Although ETHS is an exception in many aspects, high school has the chance to engage students, and it does the exact opposite. The common curriculum and “teaching to the test” mindset not only bores students, but gives them anxiety. I feel that many, if not most students don’t learn material the way it is being taught. Standardized curriculum expects every student to remember content from classes they took years before. This doesn’t necessarily apply to every subject path, but with classes such as History, Science and Math, I have noticed a pattern of expectations of prior knowledge and memorization. The problem is that students don’t really learn that way. Classes or teachers that just teach kids to “remember this” or “know what that is” aren’t effective whatsoever. By memorizing something, our brains aren’t really learning and processing it, so we can’t be expected to hold on to it for later years.

Not only does this way of school affect our learning, but it also affects our mental health. Many students cram the night before tests “to memorize all of the facts or equations.” This type of classroom also stresses students out with the workload, who have other things on their plate. Colleges also hold high expectations to be involved in outside activities. By spending all our time on these extracurriculars, it leaves no time for our schoolwork. Therefore we stay up late cramming, and lose sleep and develop unhealthy patterns. With this amount of poor health on top of stress and anxiety, it isn’t surprising to see the number of adolescents who develop mental health and anxiety issues. 

Schools need to do more to reach out to students, and not only through social workers and psychologists. By taking away some of the stress, and altering the way classrooms are taught, I believe that the amount of students struggling with mental health with decrease. 

“Good luck everyone,” her teacher said, giving her a small smile of encouragement. 

The paper had math equations on it that she stayed up till 2 a.m. studying for last night, but her mind was blank. The numbers didn’t make sense. She stared at the clock. The second hand seemed to start getting louder and louder.

“Tick-tock. Tick-tock,” was all she could hear repeating over and over in her head as she tried to concentrate.

She felt like she couldn’t breath but no one noticed. Time went by as she stared at the paper, and after what seemed like an eternity, she heard the loud bell ring. She turned her test in blank. 

After school, she ran home, ignoring her friends texts asking her how the big test went and asking to hang out later.  She walked through the door, said a half hearted hello to her mom.

“How was school?” her mom asked, not looking up from her computer. 

“Fine,” she answered quickly. 

Her mom didn’t think twice. She didn’t notice her change in behavior. How she has been staying up late every night, dark circles starting to form. She didn’t notice that her grades were dropping, and she never hung out with any of her friends anymore. She didn’t notice that she came home from school and cried in her room.

No one noticed. No one knew that she was struggling with depression.