Your life can be affected by many different forms of mental health issues, whether it’s because you have some type of mental illness or just because you don’t take enough care of yourself. 

 “Don’t focus on what everyone thinks about you when you’re trying to heal, just think of it as we are all human beings,” senior Teagan Jestice said. 

If you’re not getting enough sleep it can cause you to feel drained and unable to do simple tasks. 

“Mental health has made my life difficult because I often struggle with being happy and loving myself,” sophomore Alana Rodrguez said. 

Mental health is a large topic in life; it’s what keeps people together most days. When someone doesn’t take care of themselves, it can affect their mental stability, which in turn can affect their day-to-day life. 

If you’re feeling down or anxious for a long period of time, you may have depression or anxiety. You might consider talking to your doctor about help. 

“I highly suggest getting a therapist because even though it may seem that nothing is going to change or get better by just talking to someone about your issues, it actually can help a lot because of the release that you can feel when talking about your problems with someone you can trust,” sophomore Alana Rodriguez said. 

What is burnout? Burnout is almost like writer’s block, but it can be from anything. Whether it’s art, writing, school, or work, burnout can affect your mental health severely if you don’t take the time to have a break from some of the unnecessary added stress. Taking a day off school or work can be a good idea because it honestly can help. If you struggle with some of these effects, it’s okay. It’s also okay to not feel okay or at your best self. But never think you are alone. 

“Personally I know what it was like to go home to a really bad environment that has left mental and physical scars, then stressing about school took the only time I had to take a break from everything,” one Olathe North student who did not want to be identified said. 

There is someone who cares, whether it’s a friend, a parent, a family member, a teacher, or a therapist. Most people think it makes them weak or a burden to reach out to someone for support. They are beyond wrong. Finding the strength to reach out to someone takes so much bravery. 

 “Mental health is extremely important to me because if you aren’t in the right headspace life is going to be a whole lot more difficult,” sophomore Alana Rodrguez said. 

There are ways to get out of a mental slump. School can be a major stressor when you struggle with mental health, so there are many different things a student can do to reduce some of the stress, from not worrying about homework, to being able to relax in a comfortable home environment. 

“Video games [have] helped a lot because it distracted me. I never got therapy because my family didn’t know and didn’t really believe in mental illness, but other than that I used to work out to help,” one Olathe North student who did not want to be identified said. 

Please contact the 988 lifeline if you are feeling any of these symptoms or experiences, it is ok to get help.