The majority of students I know have struggled with mental health at one point or another. Mental health challenges can feel consuming; at times, they feel unmanageable. 

   According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “1 in 7 (10-19 year olds) experience a mental disorder, with 50% of conditions starting by age 14, affecting long-term development, academics, and relationships.”

  The demand from academics and extracurriculars increases mental health struggles; athletics are known to be incredibly mentally challenging. There is also immense pressure to build a competitive resume for college or jobs that leaves very little room for downtime, leading to chronic burnout.

     According to  the National College Health Assessment, “approximately 80% of students report they have experienced academic burnout at some point.”

    Many teenagers believe that feeling constantly anxious or overwhelmed is just a “normal” part of being a student. The normal amount of stress isn’t any stress; the school system seems to have forgotten that students aren’t just a GPA; the threshold for college admission rises every year. 

Students need the highest GPAs from the hardest classes schools have to offer, the best ACT or SAT scores and success in multiple extracurriculars to stand a chance at college acceptance. Getting into college shouldn’t mean sacrificing your mental health.