Creating a Safe Space for My Peers

Chatterjee, Rhitu. “Kids Are Back in School - and Struggling with Mental Health Issues.” NPR, National Public Radio, 7 Jan. 2022, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/01/07/1070969456/kids-are-back-in-school-and-struggling-with-mental-health-issues. Accessed 28 June 2023.

The NPR article "Kids Are Back in School and Struggling with Mental Health Issues" examines the difficulties children are having with their mental health as a result of going back to traditional classroom instruction. According to the report, there is a rise in mental health difficulties among K–12 kids nationwide, including elevated stress, anxiety, and behavioral problems. Studies demonstrating how the COVID-19 epidemic has worsened the current crisis in juvenile mental health draw attention to the pandemic's effects on children's mental health. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there was an increase in children seeking emergency mental health care during the epidemic. Additionally, it states that compared to prior years, emergency room visits for children with mental health difficulties have dramatically increased. The article talks about a variety of alarming behaviors seen in schools, including kids behaving younger than they are, more hostility, violence, and self-harm. It underlines how difficult it is for schools to give these pupils the support and mental health care they require because of the high demand for services and the scarcity of available funding. Due to barriers to obtaining mental health specialists, many children do not receive timely assistance. The psychological effects of a year away from on-site instruction are also discussed in the paper, including the absence of social contacts and learning chances. It mentions how intellectually and emotionally behind the average kids with special needs are behind the average and those who already had a mental health diagnosis. The article goes on to detail the traumatizing experiences of kids who have lost loved ones to COVID-19, especially in areas where the death rate is higher. The paper underlines the importance of providing proper mental health support in schools, especially in underprivileged areas with limited access to care. The load on the healthcare system and the difficulties families encounters in getting their kids the prompt assistance they need are also mentioned. The article also highlights the initiatives taken by healthcare organizations and educational institutions to address concerns with early detection and support of children's mental health problems. Overall, the piece highlights the critical need for resources and help to address this escalating epidemic while shedding light on the present challenges kids with their mental health confront when returning to school. NPR is an independent, nonprofit media organization that reaches millions each week through its radio stations, website, social media, podcasts and other formats. They are known for a low tolerance of bias and a strong reliability by covering stories with witnesses. This source is great for my project because it shows many the blockades of children accessing treatment for mental health. Covid changing kids' behaviors made them more depressed, anxious, or aggressive from lack of human interaction. This shows situations where the mentality can just get worse with nothing that they can do.

“Everything You Need to Know about Child & Teen Mental Health.” A Guide to Child & Teen Mental Health | McLean Hospital, 30 Sept. 2022, www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/child-teen-mental-health#:~:text=Over%20half%20of%20all%20cases,anxiety%2C%20or%20an%20eating%20disorder. Accessed 28 June 2023.

​A detailed guide to children's and adolescents' mental health is available on the website. It underlines the growing significance and prevalence of concerns related to children's and adolescents' mental health. According to the website, one in five children and teenagers live with a mental health issue such as depression, anxiety, or an eating disorder, and more than half of all cases of mental illness start before the age of 14. To address these circumstances, the website emphasizes the significance of early identification and action. It talks on the qualities of a mentally healthy kid or teen, like their capacity for learning, emotional expression, forming good relationships, and coping with changing circumstances. The website also lists and describes a number of prevalent mental health conditions that affect kids and teenagers. Anxiety disorders, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), eating disorders, mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder, and personality disorders like borderline personality disorder (BPD) are among them. The website's overall goal is to provide information and tools that will assist parents, medical professionals, and educators in understanding and effectively addressing concerns related to the mental health of children and adolescents. Mclean hospital is ranked 1st among all psychiatric hospitals in the country according to U.S. News & World Report. Their credibility is strong due to all the organization focusing on is research is purely for phychiatic knowledge, treatment, and education. This source helps me understand the mental illnessses that these children are most likely facing. It can help me understand what is common at the students age, I could talk upon the subject or get a human example with one of the issues to further relate to the audience.

“Mental Health in Middle Level and High Schools.” NASSP, The National Association of Secondary School Principals, 13 Feb. 2018, www.nassp.org/mental-health-in-middle-level-and-high-schools/. Accessed 28 June 2023.

The significance of discussing mental health in middle and high schools is covered on this page. It underlines the fact that one in five kids and teenagers will experience a serious mental illness while they are in school. These ailments can include schizophrenia, eating problems, depression, and ADHD. The website emphasizes the crucial duties of school administrators in fostering a safe and loving learning environment, promoting students' physical and mental well-being, and addressing problems like teen suicide through effective assistance and communication. The website also lists a number of difficulties schools encounter in tackling mental health, though. These include a lack of student support workers, a lack of investment in school-based mental health services, the stigma associated with mental health disorders, and the enormous impact of student suicide deaths. The website emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive mental health support services and preventative programs in schools despite these obstacles. It makes the case that substantial investments in school-based mental health initiatives are both morally and scientifically justified in their ability to effectively reach a large number of kids. In general, the website offers insights into the significance of giving mental health a priority in middle and high schools and the difficulties that institutions encounter in doing so. The National Association of Secondary School Principals is the leading professional organization for secondary school principals, assistant principals, and other school leaders across the United States and beyond. They founded the National Honors Society and are purely focused on student leadership. Their credibility is shown as there are 15,000 verified school leaders, 30,000 advisers, and 1 million students involved in their leadership programs, meaning that most if not all their articles are peer reviewed with other members of the organization. This site helps me discover the difficulty that schools have getting kids to open about their mental illnesses. This made the point that most children will hide their problems from others instead of talking about them, leading to worse mental health. It also shows me what happens when we consider caring for mental health for middle school and high school students.