Active Minds

On Friday, November 18th, students here at NHS participated in an advisory lesson and presentation regarding mental health. The issue is a “touchy” subject among students, however it is a very important lesson for students to learn in order to raise awareness about these issues. Mental health impacts everyone. One can be “mentally healthy” or, one can suffer from a mental illness, which is out of their control. Due to people’s misunderstandings about mental illness, there are many stigmas or negative connotations: someone who suffers from bipolar disorder is moody, someone with an eating disorder is vain and someone with schizophrenia is psychotic or dangerous. Hopefully, students were able to take away the importance of removing such stigmas surrounding mental health, because these stigmas play a role in preventing people from seeking the treatment necessary for their illness.

Students also heard from Juliana Kerrest, who suffered from severe depression, manias and bipolar disorder, which restricted her ability to attend school and generally enjoy her life. Kerrest was able to receive proper treatment for her illnesses and is now an active advocate for mental illness awareness and treatment. Kerrest shares her story with students and young adults to show how mental illness is out of one’s control and can dominate their lives; she wants students to recognize symptoms so that they may be able to help a friend who may be suffering from a mental disorder.

Overall, the advisory lesson and presentation showed students the significance of mental illness. Hopefully it was able to teach students about the symptoms of mental illnesses, so that they might feel comfortable seeking treatment for their own illness or taking steps to support a friend suffering with a mental health disorder.