High school students have to handle a lot of responsibilities. School work, jobs, extracurriculars and chores tend to be top priorities for high schoolers. Mental health is cast aside, and is often not something that high school students prioritize. Brewer High School students Kennell Snell and Myles Pearce have provided some insight into balancing their mental health with their personal responsibilities.
Snell and Pearce are both involved in NHS, band and Hope Squad. They are also currently taking multiple dual credit and AP classes. With busy schedules like theirs, it’s not easy to be able to take time to focus on mental health.
“I always prioritize my personal responsibilities first and then everything else just comes along with it. If I do my important task first, then I have time to relax,” Snell said.
During free time, it’s important to do something that is beneficial to one's mental health. For some, that may be taking a nap, for others maybe taking a walk. Regardless of what it is, it’s important that one finds a way to mentally recharge after completing a mentally challenging task, such as school work.
“I like to go on bike rides. It’s like an escape. I don’t think about anything other than the road ahead of me. I also indulge in pickle ball”, Snell said.
The most important step to improving mental health is acknowledging bad habits and seeking out tools that will put an end to those habits. It’s a difficult thing to do, but it greatly improves mental health in the long run.
I get into ruts sometimes, and I can get upset and make certain situations worse. If something upsets me, it'll affect my mood for the rest of the day, and I end up treating people more rudely,” Pearce said.
Asking for support from others is never a bad thing. BHS provides more serious ways to seek help, such as counselors or Hope Squad, but other small mood-boosters are also provided. Posters with positive messages on the walls, happy staff and even bringing a DJ in for lunch on one occasion are great pick-me-ups that BHS provides for students.
“Something that improves my mood is lunch. I feel like the food has improved a lot this year. Man, that pizza is getting good,” Snell said.
It’s also important to have friends and family to turn to. Having people to rely on will most definitely benefit mental health. It’s also important to be there for other people and make sure they’re okay. You should always be your own first priority, but it’s also vital to bond with others and create steady support systems.
“I talk to my friends and family about my struggles. I have a strong support system that's allowed me to move on from my struggles and overcome them. For others, I try to make it clear that I can help support and offer my company to anyone who needs it, and I try to be as uplifting as i can to other people in my life and try not to tear anyone down,” Pearce said.
Being overwhelmed often has a negative impact on one's mental health. Being overwhelmed can lead to chronic stress and will not only have a negative effect mentally, but also physically and emotionally. It’s important to have tools or techniques that allow you to be calm during the storm.
“I like to take a step back and focus on one task at a time instead of worrying about the future. My advice to peers is to try and have a goal to strive for and a direction that you're going in life so you don't remain stagnant,” Pearce said.
Another thing that greatly benefits mental health is making sure your social and physical health are also in check. If you’re socially healthy, that means that you have a good support system. If you’re physically healthy, that means you have energy and are therefore more motivated to do things that can benefit your mental health.
“I don’t think social health is talked about enough but mental health is. If we keep social and physical health in check, then mental health will come along with it (for the most part). You need all three to be healthy,” Snell said.
One popular concern regarding mental health is social media. Whether it’s the time spent scrolling, or the content being consumed, it’s not uncommon for social media to be the blame for negative mental health, especially in teens.
“I don’t care about the social aspect of social media, but the amount of time spent on it can have an effect on me. I’m not gonna think back in fifty years wishing I scrolled on TikTok more,” Snell said.
If you don’t know where to start on your journey to improving your mental health, setting goals is a great first step. The goal should never be perfection, but rather discovering healthy habits and positive approaches to conflict. It’s normal to have bad days and get upset sometimes, but nobody deserves to feel hopeless or uncared for. If you do feel this way don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your life matters.
