2024 Mental Health Essay Contest Awardee: Bronze
Embracing the Journey Towards Mental Health Acceptance
Rachel, California
“R-Y-A-N-N-N!!!” I called out from behind the silver fence. My brother glanced in my direction before turning back to his conversation with a friend. At the time, I was only in preschool, picking up my older brother from his first day at a new elementary. From the crowd of parents and siblings, I could barely see above four feet, yet what happened next was crystal clear. As my brother leaned in to hug his “friend” goodbye, he suddenly groaned in pain, realizing he had been shoved to the ground. Embarrassed, flustered, and cheeks piping red, my brother got up slowly and hung his head low as he made his way to where I stood in complete and utter shock.
My brother was diagnosed with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) at the age of five. Labeled as “strange” and “weird” by kids at school, he hung out with creepy writhing caterpillars and shriveled rolly-pollies during lunch and recess. Unknowingly, he had become a victim of the mental health stigma, so strong that it repelled birthday party invitations and Christmas gifts for 15 years of his life. In my eyes, my brother was an intelligent, humorous, and daring young boy. However, I was yet to realize that much of society didn’t perceive him the same way. Without help or validation from anyone, my brother sped through a one-way lane and eventually crashed into severe depression.
I later learned that my brother was not alone in his mental health crisis. Around 10.6% of youth in the U.S. suffer from severe major depression, and 60.3% of those cases go untreated, according to the MHA’s Youth Data from 2022. The root of these challenges comes from a societal lack of understanding with mental health. Empathy and compassion are essential human qualities that must be instilled and obtained from a young age. If children are not taught beyond the basic definition of a mental illness, negative stigmas surrounding mental health can quickly permeate the youth community. Consequently, harmful practices such as bullying or isolation become normalized, and the long-term effects on both the victim and perpetrator are difficult to undo.
Thus, proper education of mental health must start and accumulate throughout primary and secondary schools. “Education” should not solely entail seat-based lectures or presentations, but rather encompass a wider and more engaging set of actions. For example, the BC2M high school program is a nationwide club promoting mental health discussions among students and teachers. With a mission to eliminate harmful stigma across the country, the program proves to be effective — 75% of members reported positive benefits to their mental health, and 86% say the club has noticeably spread empathy and compassion across the student body. BC2M and other programs — such as the Child Mind Institute and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) — can help foster a positive and inclusive school environment upon implementation. Furthermore, schools should be encouraged to enhance these causes in their curriculum by providing platforms for student expression. Simple activities such as hosting storytelling campaigns on World Mental Health Day, or initiating anonymous art exhibitions with a mental health theme could be valuable to students who, like my brother, hold a desire to be heard among their peers.
Beyond the classroom, a stigma also exists in youth mental health treatment, yet it is often disregarded. According to the CDC’s Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey from 2021, 37% of high school students in the U.S. reported a steep decline in their mental health. Moreover, the Healthy Minds Study found that a staggering 60% of college students reported a mental health problem during the same year. The data portrays a frequent tendency for high school students to carry over their mental health problems to college, where they face additional stressors and burdens. Although the spread of mental health awareness has been effective in educating the community, it has yet to address the lack of effective treatment available to students. A part of the problem is the healthcare system’s careless approach to handling mental illnesses. When my brother asked for help at the hospital, he was immediately carried away to the emergency room and bedridden for three days without proper accommodations. Labeling mental health victims as a hazard to society is a harmful stereotype that discourages students from asking for help when they need it.
The unmet need for youth treatment necessitates the use of technology in filling this gap. One successful method is virtual reality (VR) therapy, which uses computer simulations to tackle anxiety-based disorders. Individuals can use the immersive experience to face their fears head-on, by placing themselves in challenging situations and practicing strategies that help them think and act, such as revisiting past trauma in a safer scene. Currently, VR therapy is only offered by mental health professionals at the full cost of traditional psychotherapy. However, adopting a similar concept in secondary schools would be a fantastic approach to reducing societal and financial barriers to youth mental health treatment. After undergoing a professional training program, teachers could employ VR headsets in the classroom to provide free and personalized therapy experiences for their students. VR technology also has the potential to serve as a tool for reducing stigma if classrooms choose to simulate first-hand experiences of living with a mental illness. Including such interactive activities may help nurture a comprehensive and thoughtful perception of mental health in youth.
Today, my brother stands tall after winning his hardest battles and being welcomed into the community he loves — the U.S. Marines. Reflecting back, however, his journey could have been a lot smoother if he was given the support, patience, and understanding that is possible with modern technology. I continue to advocate for mental health awareness in hopes that one day, every child and every student will be embraced with the warmth and affection that they deserve.
NIH recognizes these talented essay winners for their thoughtfulness and creativity in addressing youth mental health. These essays are written in the students' own words, are unedited, and do not necessarily represent the views of NIH, HHS, or the federal government.
Page published May 31, 2024
