Taft Today Article
5.8 million teens in the United States have anxiety, depression, or both. How do teens work through their mental challenges, and how does Taft offer them guidance?
One of the biggest struggles that today’s teenagers face is their mental status. The stress that comes with school and family can be overwhelming, and balancing relationships or friendships can bring unhappiness. These factors can take over and eventually lead to anxiety or depression. There are specifics in every persons’ life that could potentially cause mental issues as well.
Because mental health is a leading problem among teens, it’s very important that there are a variety of resources and people available to provide help. One individual who is always there for students to talk to is assistant principal Melissa Hendler.
“This is my second year at Taft. My door is always open for any student any time that I’m at Taft. It is important that students trust me, and feel supported. I may not always have the answers, but I will help students find the right supports in and out of school,” said Hendler.
It is comforting to know that there are administrators and teachers who genuinely care for all students. Students are probably more likely to reach out when they’re struggling if they know that there are trustworthy adults to lean on and ask for guidance.
Besides there being people at school with open-door policies, Taft has other resources to offer when it comes to mental stability.
“Mr. Grishaber and the administration team have prioritized providing student supports in not just academics, but also social-emotionally. Ms. Hindmand leads a behavioral health team, full of different clinicians, that are able to meet with students. Many counselors also run groups that support students who are experiencing issues such as grief, substance abuse, and divorce,” said Hendler.
There are different ways to get help at school, and it is important to Hendler that no student feels bad about what they are going through.
“There are many more supports in place to help students than there used to be. Students should feel empowered, and not ashamed if they are diagnosed or show signs of a mental health issue or illness,” Hendler added.
Hendler serves as evidence that there are, indeed, authority figures in the school who want to help students who are struggling. However, the resources that the school offers are sometimes overlooked or neglected because students feel uncomfortable using them.
“I think Taft somewhat tries to spread the word about mental health resources, but I don’t think it’s their main focus. At the same time, students may be afraid to reach out and ask for help which can cause their mental health to go in a negative direction,” said junior Jessica Andreu (Div. 116.)
It seems that many teenagers are aware of the help that is available to them, but they choose not to use it to their advantage. Why could this be?
“I would use Taft’s mental health resources because I’m sure they’d help with my stress, but it almost feels like getting stress relief at school is strange because school is what stresses me out in the first place,” said junior Alice Duska (Div. 118.)
If many students are choosing not to utilize the mental health assets at Taft, then what do they do to help themselves? Being able to manage your own emotions or struggles is very difficult for most people, but there are definitely ways to help relieve the pressure and get rid of sad, stressful feelings.
“Sometimes all I need to do to treat my mental struggles is to take a break from everything. I either take a nap or if it’s the weekend, I will take the day to do everything that I like to do. If I’m feeling overwhelmed, I try to take everything piece by piece instead of all at once, because then I feel defeated before I even start,” said Andreu.
A person’s mental health should be a top priority. There are so many things on the mind of every individual, and it’s crucial to remember that you never know what others are going through. Taft offers many ways to help, and people can always find strategies to keep their brains in their sharpest state.
Having a mental illness or finding yourself struggling is not something to be embarrassed about. Help is everywhere, you just have to know where to find it, whether that be within yourself, or in others.