School

There is no question that school can be a stressful environment. At every level, students can face academic, social, and emotional challenges that can negatively impact mental health. However, school environments can also provide helpful communities that serve as sources of mental health interventions.

While many mental health interventions are aimed at adults, it is important to address mental health at a young age as well because “It is estimated that 20% of young people experience mental health difficulties each year” (O’Connor et al., 2017). Kids spend a majority of their time at school, and so schools have been increasingly used as additional environments to provide mental health interventions. The school setting can directly promote mental health and has been shown to help kids with coping skills, social and emotional well-being, and changing negative attitudes (O’Connor et al., 2017). Therefore, it is important that kids have access to these resources, as they have been associated with positive differences in mental health. These interventions are often offered by colleges to help college students who may be dealing with mental health problems, and young people can benefit in the same manner. “ Further, schools provide a natural setting in which students can receive needed supports and services and where families are comfortable and trusting in accessing these supports and services.” (School Based Mental Health, 2005).

Depression is extremely common among college students (Guo et al., 2020) and so the focus of many mental health interventions is this age group. It can be easy for students to become overwhelmed or feel isolated, especially if they are away from their family members. However, colleges also offer many opportunities for students to join clubs and activities that they are interested in. By taking part in these activities, students can increase their opportunities to communicate with others which is essential for maintaining mental health (Guo et al., 2020). One of the most common interventions for depressed college students is exercise. Although physical activity is associated with improved mental health, a systematic review was conducted to determine which types of exercise were the most effective. The results of the review suggested that team sports such as basketball and volleyball, “were better at alleviating depression symptoms than individual sports such as badminton” (Guo et al., 2020). Not only did the results demonstrate an association between physical activity and improved mental health, but they highlighted the significance of being a part of a team.

Colleges offer a diverse selection of clubs and activities beyond sports, including those related to music, science, community service, and so much more! These environments can be beneficial as they provide opportunities to communicate with others and share experiences with people who might have similar interests. In addition, they can often give students the opportunity to branch out into their larger community. Besides the association that community has with improved mental well-being, “Schools that also choose to collaborate with community partners have found that they can enhance the academic success of individual students” (School-Based Mental Health, 2005).

Most importantly, don't be afraid to get out there! Having an open mind towards being involved in clubs and taking advantage of mental health services offered in school settings can both be beneficial towards mental health. Stress will always be an inevitable part of school, and that is why it is crucial to take breaks and be social while participating in activities that you enjoy!

Sources:

O'Connor, C. A., Dyson, J., Cowdell, F., & Watson, R. (2017). Do universal school-based mental health promotion programmes improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of young people? A literature review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(3-4), e412-e426. doi:https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.unlv.edu/10.1111/jocn.14078

School based mental health. School Based Mental Health | Youth.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2021, from https://youth.gov/youth-topics/youth-mental-health/school-based.