Help students going through mental health traumas

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I think the mental health of students is being overlooked by adults today. When we say we are tired and/or stressed, we are told that we are lazy or that we are young and have nothing to be stressed about. When some of us say we feel suicidal, suddenly it’s as if we are ungrateful, or people look at our parents as bad parents.

There are cases where the home isn’t a safe place, but I’ve never heard someone talk about the problem in schools and the education system. Everyone talks about getting a good education and improved social life, but no one talks about the daily realities, such as how exams send your stress levels up and how a good day of studying can leave you depressed.

No one talks about when you’re struggling with a topic, but everyone sees the failing grade and automatically assumes you are wasting your time in school. I think someone should talk about these things and get help for students who are suffering silently, instead of assuming that their parents are neglecting them, or something is wrong in their homes.

Most times when a student says, “I feel like killing myself,” it is usually when exams are near. We students need help in these areas where there is little to no intervention. This is a teenager’s perspective; I hope someone is listening. If someone conducts surveys, you would see how widespread the issue is. Please save our children. In a matter of weeks, the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results will be released.

Many students are already dreading the outcome. We need help; please save us.

O.B.