As the wind and cold pick up, so can an overwhelming sadness. The pale and dry skin, cold weather, holidays, and finals become a contagious environment for worry. Experiencing anxiety, depression, or increased emotion is normal, no one is ever alone in struggles with mental illness. In fact, one in three high school students struggle or have struggled with a form of mental disorder. 

Reaching out doesn’t mean weakness. Telling someone takes immense courage and strength. Every experience is valid. Nobody has to tackle something of such magnitude alone. It is okay to feel any and every emotion. Every single person carries hardship differently…and that is okay. It is absolutely okay to not be okay.

Learning coping skills that are efficient and helpful can be a daunting task. Therapeutic tasks to try could be journaling, coloring, watching a familiar movie or show, taking a warm shower or bath, meditation, prayer, exercise, music, or positive affirmations. These skills can be broadly categorized as either problem-focused (addressing the source or stress) or emotion-focused (managing the reaction to stress). There is a coping mechanism for everyone! 

Seeking professional assistance can help identify triggers to prevent a situation from accelerating and teach personalized techniques. “Reach out to a social worker, school counselor or trusted adult for help,” shares Mrs. Jami Presswood, social worker at EHS. “The social workers have a list of community resources for mental health that we often share with students and families.  It is important to know they are not alone, nor do they have to go through those difficult days alone. Therapy can be very beneficial for those who are open to receiving that help.” Presswood recommends utilizing the resources students can have access to. 

Feeling accelerated amounts of nervousness or stress is common this time of year. “I would say, yes, students seem to have a few more stressors with finals and holidays/family stressors,” Presswood reaffirms. “This time of year can also be a trigger for many students who have lost loved ones. So, we also see an increase in students processing the holiday season without those people.” Presswood comments on the exceeding number of students experiencing hardship. There should not be stigma on mental health. Society needs to normalize talking about every experience, so no one feels alone.

At Elkhart High School, efforts are already being made to do just that. “We have a club on campus that works on educating students about mental health and normalizing talking about mental health issues. It’s called Bring Change2Mind,” Presswood asserts. “Students can email Mrs. Presswood if they are interested in more information.” Presswood highlights the importance of awareness and helping other students in this community.

In addition to Presswood (A&C and HPS), there are three social workers serving Elkhart High School:  Mrs. Kenya Kidder (ETI), Ms. Tara Butler (HS and BIR), and Ms. Hillaree Biddlecome (School Without Walls). While the social workers are technically divided according to various Schools of Study, all are available to assist students in any School of Study.

 Do not ever be ashamed to reach out; there are great resources for anyone to use.