On September 30th, various teachers and students were interviewed at U of D Jesuit as they responded to a common question: why is mental health important and what do you see being done at The High to take care of students’ mental health?

As times have changed, there has been an increase in mental health awareness. An emphasis on the importance of mental health has grown in all environments: social, work, school, etc. James Schilp, a senior at UDJ, was chosen for an interview because of his connection to mental health awareness. His connection stems from his sister, Grace, who became a therapist after graduating from Xavier in 2020. Her expertise on the subject has led James to go to her in times of need, which has allowed him to get a better understanding of why mental health is so important and what he can do to ensure he is as healthy as he can be. When asked what he has seen being done to benefit the mental health of the UDJ student body, he said, “In my last four years at The High, I have realized that the majority of my teachers are kind when you know them on a deeper level. I feel like many students who are new to the school struggle with mental health because they do not have the connection with teachers that many upperclassmen do.”

As Schilp noted, the teachers at The High are kind and compassionate people. However, it is hard to see that when you don’t know them well, which is why actively participating in class is essential in order to grow closer with teachers. Drew Edson, an anatomy teacher, said, “I think that mental health is an incredibly important topic, something that doesn’t always get the recognition that it should. In order to benefit the mental health of my students, I aim to make my classroom a healthy environment, one that is filled with peace and love.” Upon my recent interviews with a variety of faculty members and students, I have seen the significance of mental health in the high school environment. In order to learn and thrive, students need to be in an environment that supports their mental health.

With time, I believe that more and more schools will see how important the mental health of their students truly is, and many schools will take the appropriate measures to take care of and look after their student body.