Mental Health: Same Issues, New Words Over Time

Recently I was walking around Barnes and Noble Bookstore and looking at the categories and titles of books. There were seven major sections of books that I could see: Health and Wellness, Cooking, Fitness, History, Finance, Psychology, and Religion.  I am amazed at how many books have been written to help us with our mental health. Of all those categories, five of them relate directly to mental health and how to improve our lives in some way.  I was imagining all the books written through the ages that weren't even on the bookshelves, but can be accessed electronically or in libraries.

Over the years, the field of Psychology comes up with new terms for the same issues. Here are some of them.
1980's  Self-Esteem
1990's  Positivity & Meditation
2000's  Self-Help
2010's  Self-Care and Mindfulness

Mental Health is an ageless issue in every culture. While we know that genetics, environment, spiritual mindset and personality all play a part in people's mental health (we are all on a spectrum!), no one has a magic answer to recovery, but collectively, we can narrow down remedies to some common things. Things that we know help improve mental health in various combinations:
A good diet, outdoor time in the sun, exercise, spirituality, medication (for some), counseling, de-stressing (taking yourself out of situations that cause stress- when possible), setting long term goals, and getting the required recommended amount of sleep.

Working with teenagers who have mental health issues, I am amazed at how many of them are already living poor lifestyles at their young ages. Most of them definitely are not getting enough sleep, they eat a terrible diet of french fries and hamburgers or chicken fingers several times a week, and rarely do they exercise once they have completed PE requirements. I personally think PE should be required every semester until graduation.  This is a major mental health booster!

It is definitely frustrating that students don't take care of themselves, and no matter how much advice I give them, I don't see major improvements in the short term. I spend a lot of time helping kids get across the finish line of K-12 education, and then I have to shoo them out the door and start over with the next generation.

I would say that over the years, I have found that pursuing relationships with kids and letting them know we care as counselors is the best we can do, while equipping them with tools and exposing them to opportunities that are out there after graduation. I believe that every connection helps them connect brain cells, and I want them to look back on high school and remember that someone cared, even if they don't remember my name!

There Was an "Old" Woman Who Lived in a School

. . . She Had So Many Children, She Didn't Know What to Do!!

I feel like the old woman who lived in a shoe, but unlike her, I refuse to live out the nursery rhyme:

"she gave them some broth without any bread, then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed."

Instead, I'd like to rearrange the words a bit:

There was an "old" woman who lived in a school

She had so many children, she didn't know what to do

She gave them advice, to put in their head

Told them to eat well, and go early to bed.

I know that sounds silly, but I am at my wits end a lot of days with all the requests to come talk to me and not enough time to take care of each one. Unlike the old woman, I want to take care of each of their needs and requests. I don't have a simple solution or answer, when I have 345 students in my care, but I do view the students as my children while they are in the school building. I try to treat them as their parents would expect that I would, and in some cases, I try to treat them better!

There is a recommended ratio of 1 to 250 students, which would help tremendously if each school would follow that guideline, but unfortunately, it is an area where more money would be needed, and in this time of economic crisis, it is actually being taken away. Mental health issues among young people are on the rise and I am at a loss as to what the answer is. I only pray that each parent out there loves and cherishes his/her child so that the child doesn't need to see a school counselor. Idealistic, maybe. Realistic? I would say yes, it is realistic to expect that from parents. Actual? No, I think some parents are too overwhelmed and burdened trying to manage their own mental health that their children's often suffer, even if not intentionally.

For now, I will continue to feel like I have so many children I don't know what to do, and be glad that I have a job to go to every day where I can do what I can!