WOODBURY – Most people strive for good grades, the indefinable sense of accomplishment that fills your soul when you log into Powerschool and see the bright, beautiful, hard earned letter that begins the alphabet. 

A’s are the only letters you’re willing to see– and the thought of anything else seems impossible to even look at. 

Checking Powerschool becomes a full time job, making sure all of your grades are to satisfaction and reminding yourself of all your hard work. 

While you’re checking Powerschool, you seem to forget to also check up on yourself. 

While mental health is mentioned a lot it seems to be glossed over and forgotten about, but rather people should start taking it more seriously.

“Mental health is important because it’s a vital part of your life, and impacts your thoughts, behaviors and emotions,” according to a 2022 study from University of North Carolina’s UNC Health Caldwell.

Not only is it an important factor in the lives of students, it affects young people collectively. 

“Being healthy emotionally can promote productivity and effectiveness in activities like work, school or caregiving,” said UNC Health Caldwell study. “It plays an important part in the health of your relationships, and allows you to adapt to changes in your life and cope with adversity.”

 While it is tempting, only focusing on your grades so you can be ‘successful in life,’ another way to be successful is also being happy. 

Easier said than done, making sure your mental health is well enough so you can function emotionally and physically as a person is an important part of life that many take for granted. 

Sol Rich student at Nonnewaug shares why mental health should be talked about more often.

“I think it is important to raise awareness so people aren’t hurting silently and feel like they are alone,” said Rich. “Also so they know that they can open up to others that are around them.”

Going to school five days a week non-stop for months on end can be overwhelming– but the constant reminder of losing credit and your grades declining can be terrifying. 

Nonnewaug High School understands that their students are human and that being said they have emotions; the school grants students the opportunity to take two mental health days for the year. 

 Declan Curtin NHS’s principal sees the importance of students using mental health days being useful to students.

“Nonnewaug has jurisdiction when it comes to loss of credits for a student.  We encourage students to use two mental health days that don’t count towards credit loss,” said Curtin. “Furthermore, documented notes from doctors pertaining to mental health are also accepted and not counted towards loss of credit.”

When times feel tough, and you seem to be needing a break from school, utilize those mental health days the school provides students.

Who knows, it might help, and make the days following at school a little more pleasant. 

Struggling can be difficult, most people understand it one way or another, but the action of reaching out for help can sometimes be even harder. 

“Someone could judge you or say that they know how you feel but it just feels like they don’t,” says Emma Pratt, freshman at Nonnewaug High School. “People don’t want to be vulnerable, also if you tell one person it can spread from person to person.”

When people don’t take mental health seriously, it can become a serious problem, much bigger than people may think.

See, when you ignore your mental health for long periods of time, it can affect your brain chemistry and change you as a person. 

Osceola Community health researched what can happen if students ignore their mental health. 

“Neglecting our mental health can affect various aspects of our lives such as work, school, and interpersonal relationships,” says the research.

“Poor mental health may lead to decreased energy and motivation, headaches, digestive-related issues, nervousness, mood changes, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite, lack of focus and concentration, constant worry, substance use, emotional dysregulation, or low self-esteem,” the research said. 

Christopher Maclean, NHS’s counselor understands how critical it is for students to prioritize their mental health during times of stress. 

“I think just keeping things in balance,” said Maclean. “Obviously paying attention to your school work and all your obligations, but also to make sure you’re not getting overwhelmed.”

Maclean’s reasoning for prioritizing mental health comes from his understanding of how stressors can affect students. 

“Check in with yourself to be aware when you’re getting stressed,” said Maclean. “Just kind of be vigilant and always evaluate how you’re feeling and then if you’re not feeling well, to get help.” 

Even though school should be important, your mental health should be held on a pedestal above your academic success. 

Which has proven to help you in the long run. 

This is the opinion of NHS reporter Stella Stein ’29.