Mental health crises are on the rise across the US. Suicide was the second leading cause of death among those aged 10 to 14 and 25 to 34 in 2020. A person died by suicide every 11 minutes that year. A study conducted by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) found that between 2016 and 2020, the number of children ages three to 17 years diagnosed with anxiety grew by 29 percent and those with depression by 27 percent. The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened mental health issues. Mental health is just as important as physical health is and reducing stigma around it is essential to the well-being of children.
Stigma often comes from lack of understanding or fear. Inaccurate or misleading media representations of mental illness contribute to both those factors. A review of studies on stigma shows that while the public may accept the medical or genetic nature of a mental health disorder and the need for treatment, many people still have a negative view of those with mental illness. Stigma surrounding mental health has caused more people to not receive mental health services when they need it. According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than half of those with mental illness never get the services needed. Often, people will avoid or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently.
Stigma and discrimination only aggravate negative thoughts or feelings and can have a huge impact on those seeking treatment. Effects can include lower self-esteem, increased psychiatric symptoms, bullying or harassment, and reduced likelihood of staying with treatment. In fact, A 2017 study involving more than 200 individuals with mental illness over a period of two years found that greater self-stigma was associated with poorer recovery from mental illness after one and two years. Stigma also drives many students in school to be afraid to be seen by classmates or friends visiting the counselor’s office.
Schools also need to teach children, from a young age, the importance of mental health and what to do if they ever feel like they, or someone around them, may need help. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that as many as 3 percent of children ages 6-12 might have major depressive disorder and 30 percent of children in the study reported being mildly to severely depressed. Based on my personal experience, I was not taught anything about anxiety or depression in elementary school. And even throughout middle school, my class was only gathered once or twice to discuss the topic of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. But even then, I was never taught anything about other mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder, OCD, ADHD, or schizophrenia.
Researchers at the University of Missouri (MU) found evidence that children who show symptoms of depression in 2nd and 3rd grade are six times more likely to have social or academic skill deficits than those without. Individuals with these conditions might feel isolated in a school setting, and that can impact their desire to engage with others and have a great effect on their overall well-being. As stated before, stigma often comes from lack of understanding or fear. If we are better educated in school about various conditions, we can better understand and reduce the stigma around mental health and illness.
With depression, anxiety, and suicide rates being on the rise, schools also must teach their students the importance of a good mental state and steps to take if they ever need help. This could potentially help students recognize signs of mental illness in themselves or people around them and possibly save a life. Schools can teach students how and where to find help if they find themselves in these kinds of scenarios. For example, students can go to the school counselor, a psychologist, or a trusted adult like their parent, a friend’s parent, or a teacher. There are also available hotlines for those in distress. You can call or text 988 if you or someone you know needs help.
Sources:
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2789946?guestAccessKey=41fde697-e79f-411c-bed3-743faeb63055&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=031422
https://www.k12dive.com/news/elementary-students-with-depression-more-at-risk-for-skill-deficits-new-st/532271/#:~:text=Though%20the%20Anxiety%20and%20Depression,because%20they%20are%20seeing%20different
Stigma often comes from lack of understanding or fear. Inaccurate or misleading media representations of mental illness contribute to both those factors. A review of studies on stigma shows that while the public may accept the medical or genetic nature of a mental health disorder and the need for treatment, many people still have a negative view of those with mental illness. Stigma surrounding mental health has caused more people to not receive mental health services when they need it. According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than half of those with mental illness never get the services needed. Often, people will avoid or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently.
Stigma and discrimination only aggravate negative thoughts or feelings and can have a huge impact on those seeking treatment. Effects can include lower self-esteem, increased psychiatric symptoms, bullying or harassment, and reduced likelihood of staying with treatment. In fact, A 2017 study involving more than 200 individuals with mental illness over a period of two years found that greater self-stigma was associated with poorer recovery from mental illness after one and two years. Stigma also drives many students in school to be afraid to be seen by classmates or friends visiting the counselor’s office.
Schools also need to teach children, from a young age, the importance of mental health and what to do if they ever feel like they, or someone around them, may need help. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that as many as 3 percent of children ages 6-12 might have major depressive disorder and 30 percent of children in the study reported being mildly to severely depressed. Based on my personal experience, I was not taught anything about anxiety or depression in elementary school. And even throughout middle school, my class was only gathered once or twice to discuss the topic of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. But even then, I was never taught anything about other mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder, OCD, ADHD, or schizophrenia.
Researchers at the University of Missouri (MU) found evidence that children who show symptoms of depression in 2nd and 3rd grade are six times more likely to have social or academic skill deficits than those without. Individuals with these conditions might feel isolated in a school setting, and that can impact their desire to engage with others and have a great effect on their overall well-being. As stated before, stigma often comes from lack of understanding or fear. If we are better educated in school about various conditions, we can better understand and reduce the stigma around mental health and illness.
With depression, anxiety, and suicide rates being on the rise, schools also must teach their students the importance of a good mental state and steps to take if they ever need help. This could potentially help students recognize signs of mental illness in themselves or people around them and possibly save a life. Schools can teach students how and where to find help if they find themselves in these kinds of scenarios. For example, students can go to the school counselor, a psychologist, or a trusted adult like their parent, a friend’s parent, or a teacher. There are also available hotlines for those in distress. You can call or text 988 if you or someone you know needs help.
Sources:
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2789946?guestAccessKey=41fde697-e79f-411c-bed3-743faeb63055&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=031422
https://www.k12dive.com/news/elementary-students-with-depression-more-at-risk-for-skill-deficits-new-st/532271/#:~:text=Though%20the%20Anxiety%20and%20Depression,because%20they%20are%20seeing%20different
