According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 5 adults are diagnosed with a mental health illness. Teens are affected as well. The NIMH reports that mental health issues affect 49.5% of adolescents at some point in their lives.
At West Salem High School, teens go to the school-provided counselors Abby Kemp and Julie Arentz or the resource officer, Riley Schmidt. Abby Kemp says that she has seen an overall increase in students struggling with mental health.
Similarly, the counselors agree that social media plays a big role in teen mental health. Arentz said, “And there’s just so many different reasons. Like, obviously, I think we saw social media causing a lot for a while.”
Kemp also explains that there are many possible reasons for the increase. Some students may be more open about their struggles, while others are dealing with stress from school, family life, or relationships. Throughout the school year, counselors help students with different challenges, ranging from college applications to personal conflicts and anxiety about the future.
The counselors also say that students come to them for a variety of reasons. Common issues include stress about academics, relationships, family problems, and uncertainty about life after high school. As mental health continues to affect teenagers nationwide, school counselors remain an important resource for students at West Salem High School.
