What is mental health? People sometimes think about this. Most of the students don’t acknowledge the posters hanging on the walls throughout the school.

You never know exactly what someone is thinking if you do not worry about them. Over one in five youth (ages 13-18), either currently or at some point throughout their lives, have dealt with mental health issues. However, this is throughout the United States. We have no idea who is truly struggling with mental health. 

Whitney Hubeek discusses how the posters are supposed to have a positive impact because Mental Health and Counseling classes were demonstrating their understanding of breaking the Stigma of Mental Health. 

“They wanted to show others that a lot of people go through various things/moments regarding mental health, and mainly that it’s completely fine to reach out to someone to talk about it,” she said.

This is the main reason why Counselors are in schools. 

Most of the mental health posters focus solely on “Struggles” and “Mental Health Issues” because that is a big problem that humans struggle with in life. September was Mental Health Awareness Month, so Amanda Harris and Hubeek’s mental health and counseling classes focused on promoting awareness for the month and helping students understand that they are not alone. 

The idea is that even if you feel like you are alone and no one is there for you, you can reach out to someone.   

Many students struggle or know someone who is struggling with mental health or depression. It is not easy for people to tell if someone is going through depression or has mental health issues. The posters and the club Hope Squad help people who are going through something. 

However, schools do not understand when people are going through something as serious as this; most are uncomfortable sharing it. Especially with the school counselors and students, some kids won’t even tell their parents. 

Then, the school expects them to say something to peers or administrators, and it doesn’t ever work.