It’s no secret that the pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health and well-being of students across America. Organizations can help their communities by hiring mental health speakers for school assemblies and applying for school grants to offset expenses.
Physical Health Versus Mental Health
When people bring up the subject of health, many are quick to think about physical health. The clear reason for this is simple, it’s an external variable that people can see. However, the bigger issue is what cannot be see, the internal gauge that often produces the external…mental health.
As a top mental health speaker for school assemblies myself, I often address the issues that we all struggle with inside. I go into a character that is limping as I walk. I tell the audience that if you saw me walking down the street that they would think that I may need medical attention, and they would be correct. I then remind them how many people are walking around limping themselves mentally and emotionally, but since we cannot see it, we cannot address it and the person hurting can disguise their pain.
People who are mentally unhealthy often pretend to be okay around groups of people. Only those who have learned to voice their emotions will state when they are not okay. Communicating emotions is a learned behavior and mental health experts will tell you that it’s important to learn to do it.
Venting Out Emotions
Venting is a common way to communicate emotions. I teach my audiences how venting is transferring your emotions into words, pictures or actions. Every person vents differently, but the idea is to not let emotions continue to build up, finding a release is necessary and healthy.
I talk to my own kids about Fred Rogers and his famous quote, “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting and less scary.”
The idea is that there’s always a way out of any situation that they may find themselves in. How cool would it be for every student to have a caring adult in their life say to them that no matter the situation you may find yourself in, there’s a way out of it and that they can work it out together. Students are happier when they know they have the love and support from an adult.
Students Need Caring Adults
This is why parents are crucial. This is why mentorships are vital. A supported child has a high chance of becoming a mentally healthy adult.
As a speaker, I’m often trying to break through some hard hearts of students from years of being abandoned by the adults in their lives. I come in and speak like a big brother and a loving adult and kids start to open up and feel heard. It’s amazing how many students will want to just hang out afterwards. Yes, some will want to share about their home life and the struggles that they have, but most just want to say thank you as a way of saying, you know my struggles and you put them into words and helped me to see that there’s always a way out.
If your school has never hired a mental health speaker for a school assembly, get in touch with us and let us serve your school. Students are ready to take steps towards becoming emotionally and mentally healthy.
