Page 3 - Edge: Issue 6

Why Mental Health Wednesdays
Should Matter
Editorial by Kaitlyn Sollberger
Moans and groans seem to be a typical response to the three dreaded words ‘Mental Health Wednesdays.’ As a result of Mental Health Wednesdays, students are having to give up the time that they would usually spend doing other activities or catching up with their friends. Instead, these students will see their tribe teachers twice a week rather than once. This may appear to be a bad package deal, but underneath the surface it is a worthwhile addition to the school that we can all greatly benefit from.
When I first heard the words ‘Mental Health Wednesdays,’ and I learned what that meant for the typical school week, I was startled. Over the course of my last several years at Edgewood, nothing has ever been done like it. Honestly, I was frustrated and confused.
However, after learning more about this pressing topic, I do not believe I could possibly feel that way
again.
acting differently than they once did? Has a close friend suffered a loss?
In your own friend group, the people that you spend the most time with, students may be suffering from a trauma or crisis that you have no idea about. Within your life, it is also possible that you personally suffer from a severe loss or an overwhelming sadness that you may be too scared to discuss with others.
Many of those students needing mental health care oftentimes do not realize that they require such or feel ashamed of reaching out. Mental health is important to everyone, from your friend who has been staying awake most nights to your friend who may have parents going through a divorce. There are hundreds upon thousands of youth and adults who have already gone about finding help for their
mental health with even more needing to search for it both within themselves and in a
I did not know that the standard of mental health for youth in the state of Florida is ranked
at 36 out of 51, including
the District of Columbia.
This indicates that there
are slightly lower rates
of access to care and
higher occurrences of
mental illness in Florida compared to other parts of
the country, according to
Mental Health America.
professional environment. Some of those using mental health resources may be in your own classroom. They may even be
sitting right next to you.
But the mental health programs that have recently been introduced by the state of Florida are for those unsure of whether or not they need to work towards better
themselves. Even if these students do acknowledge that they need help, they might not know
where to even start.
This initiative by the state is not only aimed to help
students with their challenges right now, but also to help them reach their fullest potential in the future. Students need the support and direction that this program will give to them.
But while this $75 million dollar program is going to change the way the school day works, it will only achieve its full potential if we as students accept the necessity for this program while also learning from it. This course provides information that can benefit hundreds if not thousands of people, but if the student body chooses to ignore its message or treat this effort as a sham, there will be no change.
We as students have the power to help others and make a change when we see it is needed. We can make change by learning from the lessons taught on Mental Health Wednesdays and applying them to our own lives. Whether it be referring a close friend to counseling or spending time talking about your problems, everyone’s mental health should matter.
I did not know that 7.7 million U.S. youth from ages 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2016 according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness.
I did not know that many estimates show that even though mental illness affects so many kids aged 6-17, at least 50% and up to 80% of these kids do not receive the mental health care they need, according to the Association for Children’s Mental Health.
7.7 million youth. 7.7 million students just like you and me experienced a mental health disorder all in the span of one year. To present a clearer picture, 7.7 million students represented 16.5% of all U.S. youth at that point in time.
Mental health issues are slowly making their way into the lives of many students, and without the tools to stop them, there will be no hope for the future.
Think of your own friends. Do you know someone who is sad or anxious nearly all the time? Are people in your friend group stressed or making comments that they don’t mean? Is someone close to you consistently absent or suddenly
7.7 million U.S. youth from ages 6-17 experienced a mental
At least 50% and up to 80% of kids aged 6-17 do not receive
the mental health care they need, according to the Association for Children’s Mental Health.
health disorder in
2016 according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness.
mental health for
Calendar
2/28
BSCO vs. Staff Basketball Game
3/4
SAT On Campus
3/6-8
Spring Play: Macbeth
3/16
Spring Break Begins