Dan Carlo D.

Villafranca Grade 10 – Lithium

Pros of Mental Health should be a n Additional subject in Junior High school in conformity with
the Parents’ Perspective

Goodmorning everyone, I express my gratitude for your interest in the subject.

Mental health is one of the most important aspects in our lives. It affects how we act, think as we cope
with life. If our mental health is neglected, it can lead to serious things like anxiety and depression, which
is very miserable in any angle and needs to be addressed right away before it gets worse. Mental Health
issues can affect many areas in students' lives, their academics, physical health, and negatively impacting
relationships with friends and family members. This concern may also have long-term effects for
learners, impacting their future careers, earning opportunities and overall health.

Having Mental health as an additional subject in junior high helps to prevent these serious things to
happen. Mental health awareness helps young adults to understand times we are in today where many
people get depressed, anxious, and these brings a huge impact on everyone's mental state.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), adolescent depression in schools is on the
rise. 2016 statistics shows that an estimated of 3.1 million adolescents aged 12-17 in the US had at least
one major depressive episode in 2016. It represents the 12.8 percent of US population in the age group.
Despite the fact that the average age of early signs of mental illsness is 14, most individuals don't seek
help until adulthood. Underlining the severity is the fact that 60% of mentally ill high school students do
not graduate. (February 2018)

Many students report that mental health difficulties interfere with their studies. Students identified the
mental health issues on the American College Health Association 2015 survey that is negatively
impacting their academic performance within the last 12 months. To name a few of those is Stress ,
Axiety , Sleep Difficulties , and Depression (SPRC, n.d.).

Depression has become one of the most prevalent issues confronting students and young individuals
today, and it may possibly lead to become suicidal if not treated or given attention which is one of the
most feared by the parents. Parents do not want that to happen to their children. Hence, parents should
also be talking to their children about their problems. We all need someone to talk to alleviate the
problems and prevents these things to happen.

Ways to identify signs of developing mental health issues should be given to teachers and students and
opportunities should be offered to raise awareness and manage mental health crises, including the risk
of suicide or self-harm. The interaction between mental wellbeing and other negative coping behaviors
should be addressed as well as the negative effect on mental illness of stigma and cultural attitudes.

In conclusion, the affirmative shows the importance and the necessity of having Mental Health as
additional subject to Junior High schools. Together with a practical solution on how parents respond to
the mental health of their children, which will encourage you to support the resolution in this debate
and vote for the affirmative. To end my speech, i would like to end this with a quote by A.J Darkholme
saying "Always hear others out and remain open-minded; the day you think you know everything is the
day you have the most yet to learn."