More and more Washington youth report feelings of anxiousness, hopelessness and suicidal thoughts — and there’s something we can do about it.
Although some families can afford mental health care outside of school, many families can’t. For this reason, schools tend to play a role in children’s ability to get help when they need it. A healthy well-being is critical for students’ academic success, and across Washington, education leaders, teachers, parents and students themselves say they are taking youth mental health seriously.
How students access mental health services is bound to be more challenging during school closures, but many who are on the front lines of this work are looking for creative solutions. Here are answers to common questions about this topic.
What do we mean by ‘mental health’?
Mental health is made up of a diverse set of social, psychological, emotional and physical factors. Like health, everyone has mental health. It’s part of how we think, feel and act on a daily basis. Mental health is generally thought to be on a spectrum: It can vary from day-to-day, and from one stage of life to the next.