May, also recognized as Mental Health Awareness month, is a time when the NYC Department of Education acknowledges the importance of mental health. During this month’s community gathering, Queens Preparatory Academy shed light on this issue, which is extremely relevant for teens today. Recognizing the importance of mental well-being, our school aims to foster open conversations and provide resources to support our students. Through this initiative, we hope to create a supportive environment where everyone feels empowered to prioritize their mental health.
Understanding Mental Health
Understanding mental health is essential for overall well-being. It encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing how we think, feel, and act. Mental health affects our ability to handle stress, relate to others, and make choices throughout all stages of life—from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. According to the NYCDOE ‘Mental Health’ article, “One in five children struggle, or at some point in their life will struggle, with their mental health.” QPA Guidance Counselor Lashanna Edwards said this is when students are reminded to seek help when they’re feeling down, anxious or overwhelmed. She encourages students to seek help in school, from friends, family or other resources in the community.
Seeking Help and Support
Janice Garfinkle and Kimberly Ulkele from National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), joined QPA at our community gathering to discuss the importance of mental health and how it can affect students. Ms. Janice Garfinkle was asked how poor mental health can affect someone intensely, to which she responded “It’s very important. If your mental health is bad, it affects everything—your grades, your motivation, and your relationships.”
Some participants volunteered to answer her questions, like ‘What could someone possibly do to help their mental health?’ Students said they can seek help from teachers and parents, asking for support and therapy. She also mentioned that her own daughter suffered mentally, and she as mother first disguised it as well; but when she realized the importance of good mental health, she counseled her and gave her the therapy she needed. Janice also mentions that it’s never embarrassing to have mental health issues, and that people should be embraced rather than cast out.
Voices from the Gathering
During the gathering, students shared that listening to music, doing meditation, sleeping or being comfortable can also help mental health. A question that surfaced was what is the root cause of a bad Mental well-being? Academic stress, family problems, peer pressure are just some of the many factors that can lead to poor mental health. Attempting to fit-in within the current generation has also created internal conflicts for the teenagers. However, it is important to note that anyone can have poor mental health nowadays. And it’s completely okay to have it. It’s not always necessary to fit in the standards, and having problems are always justifiable.
Moving Forward
Every Thursday Ms. Chalmers, a social worker for the entire Springfield Gardens campus, holds a meeting with QPA Guidance Counselor Ms. Edwards and other students discussing what should be done during the monthly community gathering. As a demonstration, they all sat in a circle in the auditorium, and passed a balloon around to speak about touchy subjects, such as how they were bullied, what they were insecure about, and how it has affected their mental health. They also shared how they worked towards overcoming these issues, inspiring others to do the same.
