The document discusses mental health issues among students in school systems. It notes that many students deal with stress, anxiety, and depression both at school and home, which impacts their ability to focus and attend class, and in some cases leads to drug use. The author aims to research how common mental illnesses are among students, the impact of school on student mental health, and ways to help students while still educating them in a calm and safe environment. Potential challenges include distinguishing between mental illnesses and disorders, the sensitive nature of the topic, and properly diagnosing students. The issue is relevant as hundreds of students suffer from anxiety and are not focusing on their education, turning to drugs instead of getting help.

1. Mental Health In Our
School Systems
By: Chris Kelly

2. What is the issue?
• Students are dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression throughout their day
at school and at home
• Many are not focused throughout the day, and may even be skipping class
• Children are turning to drugs instead of getting help
• Most of the time, teachers and parents aren’t even aware of what’s going on

3. Potential Questions
• What consists of having a mental illness?
• How many students have a mental illness?
• Does school affect a student’s mental health?
• How can we help students suffering from mental health?
• How can we still educate these students while also having them feel calm and
safe?
• How are other students going to react from this?

4. Research Available
• New York Times
• Ebscohost Research Database
• Websites discussing mental health
• People who have dealt with mental illnesses before

5. Research Done
• NAMIMontana. YouTube, YouTube, 25 Apr. 2013, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeFl3l74QZA.
• Anderson, Meg, and Kavitha Cardoza. "Mental Health in Schools: A Hidden Crisis Affecting Millions
of Students." National Public Radio, 31 Aug. 2016, www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/08/31/464727159/
mental-health-in-schools-a-hidden-crisis-affecting-millions-of-students. Accessed 14 Feb. 2018.
• Denizet-Lewis, Benoit. "Why Are More American Teenagers than Ever Suffering from Severe
Anxiety?" The New York Times Magazine, 11 Oct. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/10/11/magazine/
why-are-more-american-teenagers-than-ever-suffering-from-severe-anxiety.html. Accessed 14 Feb.
2018.

6. Potential Challenges
• May get research confused between mental illnesses and mental disorders
• This is a harsh topic for some, so this topic needs to be easy for the readers
• Trying to just focus on mental health in school systems
• How other students will react towards this
• Diagnosing a student with a mental illness

7. Why is this issue relevant?
• Hundreds of students suffer from anxiety
• Students aren’t focusing on their education
• Our children are turning towards drugs to help solve their problems
• This greatly affects the student’s grades and attitude towards others