Teenage events of stress, anxiety, and depression have increased in recent years, bringing students’ mental health to a crisis level. The Columbus School students deal with rising levels of academic pressure, social difficulties, and personal difficulties, which raises the crucial question, are educational institutions doing enough to promote the mental health of their students?

Given that one in seven kids between the ages of 10 and 19 suffer from a mental disorder, schools are essential in offering services related to mental health. School counselors, wellness programs, and awareness campaigns are among the activities that some schools, including The Columbus School, have implemented. There are still questions, regarding whether these initiatives are enough or if more needs to be done.

“We are trying to do the best to have all the right implementations to help our kids,” The student counselor said.

Some students believe there is not enough help for mental health issues despite efforts to address it. Many complain about the stigma caused by getting treatment, long wait periods to visit a counselor, and a lack of mental health education in the curriculum.

“I think the school is trying, but it doesn’t feel like a top priority. We hear about mental health during specific events, but it’s not something regularly discussed,” Isabel Mejia, a TCS senior, said.

Another difficulty is the argument over how much responsibility schools should have for mental health. Some argue that schools have to place a higher priority on students’ emotional health, while others think that families and independent experts should handle those issues.

“We should place a higher priority on student’s mental health, but they first need to prioritize it in our homes,” the student counselor said.

However, as students spend most of their time in schools, research indicates that these institutions are among the greatest spaces to offer mental health help. Stigma may be decreased by efforts that generally ask for help and put mental health education into the curriculum.

“In the curriculum, there should be more engagement towards mental health. If we can learn about physical health in school, why not mental health? It’s just as important,” Maia Gallon, a TCS senior, said.

Schools need to decide if they are doing enough to address the growing number of teen mental health issues. Significant first actions should include increasing counselor reach, raising awareness campaigns, and incorporating emotional health into the curriculum.

“Mental health awareness isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity. Schools have the power to make a real difference, and it’s time to take action,” Isabel Mejía said.