by Maya Dorsam ‘27

Sherwood offers an incredible number of mental health resources, but I bet you can’t name half of them or where they are. In addition to the in-school Bridge to Wellness team that includes a Therapist, a Care Manager, and a Youth Development Specialist through MCPS’ partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, the school provides seven full-time counselors, a social worker, and a school psychologist. Sherwood also offers various Wellness/Quiet rooms that can be used for telehealth therapy appointments. Upon this discovery, I was shocked and forced to ask what the purpose of these resources was if nobody knew about them, and how we could fix them to be more effective.

According to Kelly Singleton, head of the counseling department, approximately 300 check-ins to the counseling office have been recorded for mental health-related reasons so far this school year. The number of check-ins at Sherwood reflect alarming national statistics that show that adolescents are struggling with their mental health and well-being. One in six youth have a mental health condition and more than half go untreated, while 42 percent of teens experience feelings of persistent hopelessness or sadness. Almost one-fourth of teens have seriously considered attempting suicide. About 1,500 students attend Sherwood, meaning at least 600 of them could benefit from the school’s resources based on the data points provided above. The 300ish check-ins to the counseling office recorded for mental health reasons do not begin to reach the audience that could be benefitting from them (even when assuming each check-in was made by a different student, which is highly unlikely).

While I truly believe that the counselors at our school care about the well-being of students, the process of leaving class to seek assistance makes the task impractical. Take a student with anxiety, for example. In most cases, the last thing they would want to do while experiencing high stress is miss important class time to see a counselor only to return to more work, inducing further anxiety about catching up. Many students are left to struggle through the school day and battle illness on their own due to these sorts of dilemmas.

I acknowledge that it is difficult to address the topic of mental health when school hours are limited, but I would like to present some suggestions. Students and counselors must establish real relationships through scheduled meet-ups during advisory periods and lunch. I’m not saying these need to occur often when unnecessary, but they should be scheduled during cut-out times that do not interfere with learning in order to show that the school prioritizes the issue. Counselors should set goals to see and talk to each of the students on their caseload and not just those who come to them.

It’s also crucial that teachers acknowledge their impact on teen mental health. Finding better practices that may reduce unhealthy stress that leads to destructive behavior is the first step. It’s easy to forget that students have six other classes in addition to home responsibilities, sports, and jobs. But, with such careless thinking, students are bound to suffer its side effects and tremendous weight. The resources available for increased student well-being and when it is best to seek them must become common knowledge. Especially at such an essential stage of life, students must be met with empathetic figures in their lives.

Perspective has a direct impact on teen mental health and with so many who are fixated on perfection, they are set up for failure. A small fix that can drastically help a number of teens are adults and positive figures who seek to reassure such impressionable minds that the whole world does not rest on their shoulders. Easing the stresses of school for example by explaining that grades truly do not equal the success of your future, is an essential factor in positive well-being for those whose mental health priorities fade behind the importance of grades and athletic success. Increased performance in school, sports, and life in general can only be improved with extensive consideration of how the entirety of our school approaches mental health.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or considering suicide, please call or text 988 for assistance.