By: Kendall Coffey, Elsa Cybulski, and Dagny Jones

According to Actions for Children,”One in six children aged 5-16 are likely to have mental health problems.” Today, in society, it is normal for young adults to struggle with mental health; yet this should not be the standard. If someone is struggling with mental health, it is tough to focus in school and grades can add to that struggle. Lastly, phones are one of the leading causes of anxiety and stress. 

Mr. Waskowitz on Phones

Mr. Waskowitz has made it clear how much of a hatred he has for phones. He dislikes them for many reasons. First, it shows inappropriate messages about what happens in the real world and does nothing good. “I think it sends inappropriate messages about what body image is and what happiness is,” shared Mr.Waskowitz. It prevents you from being able to make more connections; you spend more time on the phone than talking to people. Second, in middle school, students are still trying to find out who they are. They might see something online that could interrupt the process of them finding themselves since there are a lot of toxic messages out there. 

Limiting Phone Time

Being on your phone wastes time and should not consume your Mental Health. When talking to Mr.Waskowitz and Mrs. Sargent, we discussed how parents and teens limit phone time. We asked how Mrs. Sargent limits her daughter’s time on phones, and some things she mentioned were waiting to give them phones until 8th grade, being able to go through their phones, and having certain times when the phones are not allowed. This lets them focus more on themselves, not their phone/social media. “I’ve cut off all social media, and when I do go back on it, I realize how much of a time sucker it is. It distracts me completely from anything important “, said Mr. Waskowitz, sharing how he limits his phone usage. “It is a daily challenge,” he explained. 

Phones Affecting Teens

Cell phones and modern technology have affected teens academically, mentally, and physically. Phones can cause teens to get academically behind because of how much time they spend on their phones. When a student gets behind, their grades drop, and their mental state can worsen. Cell phones can cause teens’ mental health to drop because of the sights they see on social media. “When there’s a phone telling you what to do, there’s some influence that’s creating a sense of who you should be, what you look like, and how happy you should be. I think it’s a waste of time,” Mr. Waskowitz explained. First, a teen can see how another person looks, lives, and feels on the internet and often compares themselves to that person. Mental Health America states, “But other times, this can negatively affect their confidence, self-esteem, and body image. They may not even be aware that they are comparing themselves to others and the negative thoughts that come with it.” This is saying that what people see on social media will affect how they look at themselves and their lives. It also says teens often do not realize they compare themselves to what they see.

Mental Health in School

Homeschoolers tend to live happier lives and not struggle with mental health as much as others who attend school. According to the HHS Office of Population Affairs, 49.5% of students struggle with their mental health,and Pew Trust says that the  number is still growing. If a student is struggling, you should ask for help or confront them yourself. It is hard to ask for help while struggling, so if you see it happening, don’t just let them continue struggling, but do something. That said, make sure you think before speaking to someone because what you say might hurt them.

Google Form 

We surveyed students at Seven Hills Middle School to see how their mental health is affected by phones and school. We received 153 responses; some vital data includes:

• 19.6% of students spend an average of 3-4 hours on their phone
• 10.5% of students spend more than 5 hours on their phone
• 22% of students compare themselves to people online every day
• 11% of students rated their wellbeing 6/10 on a mental health scale of 1-10

When asked what students would do if they saw a peer struggling with their Mental Health, we saw some common themes in their responses:

• comfort them 
• encourage them to stop using Social Media
• tell them to consult with an adult or counselor 

These ideas are all excellent ways to cope with Mental Health issues or ways to help a friend.  

Coping With Mental Health

It is essential to know how to help yourself or a fellow peer. Some ways to help are seeing a counselor, journaling, or talking to parents. However, never keep your emotions bottled up; you are never alone; even though it is hard, you need to put your needs before others. Mrs. Sargent said, “You can journal, talk to your parents, or listen to music that is upbeat.” These things are good ways to help improve your Mental Health. 

Signs Someone is Struggling

There are many signs someone is struggling. Here is what you can look for according to Mrs. Sargent. 

1. If they seem irritable, they always get annoyed. 
2. If they have sleep issues, sleep too much or too little, or have an irregular sleep pattern.
3. Never concentrate and always zone out.
4. If they stop doing things they love or isolating themselves from people they love.

Conclusion

You should always seek help if you’re struggling. Be careful of what you say to others. Always remember that YOU MATTER.