Mental health in education encompasses the impact of mental health on educational outcomes, as well as the psychological effects of educational methods on students and teachers. Although mental health—including emotional, psychological, and social aspects—is often viewed as an adult issue, almost half of adolescents in the United States are affected by mental disorders, and about 20% of these are categorized as "severe." Mental health issues can be a major problem for students in terms of academic and social success in school. Education systems around the world treat this topic differently, both directly through official policies and indirectly through cultural views on mental health and well-being. Some systems try to effectively identify mental health disorders and treat them using therapy, medication, or other tools of alleviation. Schools may try to promote mental health awareness and resources, or help struggling students with interventions, support groups, and therapies. Such policies can reduce the stigma behind asking for help, leading to more students reaching out for help. Teaching mental health literacy can also give students knowledge and skills around mental health. These resources can help reduce the negative impact on mental health. Schools can create mandatory classes based on mental health that can help them see signs of mental health disorders.
Prevalence of mental health issues in adolescents According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 46% of American adolescents aged 13–18 will suffer from some form of mental disorder. About 21% will suffer from a disorder that is categorized as "severe," meaning that the disorder impairs their daily functioning, but almost two-thirds of these adolescents will not receive formal mental health support. According to the World Health Organization, physical, emotional, and social problems such as poverty, abuse, or violence cause students to be vulnerable to mental health illnesses. An estimated one in seven (14.3%) of 10- to 19-year-olds experience mental health conditions that remain unrecognized and untreated. The most common types of disorders among adolescents as reported by the NIMH is anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and others), with a lifetime prevalence of about 25% in youth aged 13–18 and 6% of those cases being categorized as severe. Next are mood disorders (major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and/or bipolar disorder), with a lifetime prevalence of 14% and 4.7% for severe cases in adolescents. A similarly common disorder is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is categorized as a childhood disorder but oftentimes carries through into adolescence and adulthood. The prevalence for ADHD in American adolescents is 9%, and 1.8% for severe cases. It is important to understand that ADHD is a serious issue in not only children but adults. When children have ADHD a number of mental illnesses can come from that which can affect their education and hold them back from succeeding. According to Mental Health America, more than 10% of young people exhibit symptoms of depression strong enough to severely undermine their ability to function at school, at home, or whilst managing relationships. A 2021 study conducted by NIMH managed to link 31.4% of suicide deaths to a mental health disorder, the most common ones being attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or depression. Suicide was the second leading cause of death among persons aged 10–29 years in the United States during 2011–2019. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined. There are an average of over 3,470 attempts by students in grades 9–12. According to APA, the percentage of students seeking college mental health counselling has been rising in recent years. With anxiety as the most common factor, depression as the second, stress as the third, family issues as the fourth, and academic performance and relationship problems as the fifth and sixth.
Common disorders effects on academics and school life Mental disorders can affect classroom learning, such as poor attendance, difficulties with academic performance, poor social integration, trouble adjusting to school, problems with behavior regulation, and attention and concentration issues, all of which is critical to the overall success of the student. Not only do mental health disorders affect the individual's life, but also the competitive job market. Students who are unable to perform in school will be less likely to be able to perform in the workforce. High school students who screen positive for psychosocial dysfunction report three times as many absent and tardy days as students who do not identify dysfunction. This leads to extremely high dropout rates and lower overall academic achievement. In the United States, only 40 percent of students with emotional, behavioral, and mental health disorders graduate from high school, compared to the national average of 76 percent. An analysis of 40,350 undergraduates from 70 institutions by Posselt and Lipson found that they had a 37% higher chance of developing depression and a 69% higher chance of developing anxiety if they perceived their classroom environments as highly competitive. The mental health crisis in the United States has also been linked to the rise in course rigor in American highschools due to how competitive college admissions have been in the past 30 years
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