Speech

Having panic or anxiety episodes and crying nonstop during the night. You can't
muster the will to finish the homework or prepare for the exam, yet you punish
yourself when you feel overloaded or overstimulated, have suicidal thoughts, or,
worst of all, have no one with whom to confide. To all of you, good day. For this
portfolio, the topic "The stigma associated with mental health issues and its
impact on students' education" was chosen. A society's or a group of people's
negative and frequently unjust perceptions about something can be characterized
as stigma. I chose this topic because I have firsthand experience with mental
health concerns and the stigma associated with it, as well as because it is a well-
known issue in schools. Our ideas, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by our
emotional, psychological, and social well-being, which are all components of our
mental health. It also affects how we deal with stress, communicate with people,
and make decisions.Mental health should be treated with caution because it
affects everything we do. because poor mental health can have detrimental effects
such as interpersonal issues, social isolation, and mortality. It is crucial that
students' mental health is not stigmatized and is taken into consideration, even
though some people may not believe in mental health and may assume that
students "have nothing to worry about" when it comes to it. Homelessness, an
increase in the number of mentally unstable people on the road, and crime and
violence are all related to poor mental health. Various sources will discuss the
detrimental effects and stigma associated with mental illness in this explanatory
speech. To further discuss this topic, three sources were consulted. The first was
an October 1, 2022, Zara Abrams article from the website www.apa.org. The
second source is a piece of writing by NEA senior writer Mary Ellen Flannery
titled "Mental health in school: The kids are not all right," which was published
on July 20, 2022. Lastly, a blog entry titled "Make Schools in Jamaica a
SafePlace," written by author Ree-Anna and published on September 22, 2002,
by UNICEF, will be utilized to further on the subject.

First of all, the article "Student mental health is in crisis" began by stating the
dire situation in which students' mental health is currently in. According to the
author, between 2020 and 2021, over 60% of the students surveyed satisfied the
requirements for at least one mental health issue that had an impact on their
social and academic lives. This data demonstrates that mental health issues have
a real detrimental influence on kids and have an impact on their academic
performance. Some may argue that the pandemic is to blame for the emotional
stress that students are experiencing, but the author pointed out that schools
were already seeing a spike in demand for mental health services prior to the
pandemic and were ill-prepared to handle the situation. In the previously
mentioned article, Abrams's author, Michael Gerard Mason, PhD, the associate
dean of African American affairs at the University of Virginia, and a seasoned
counselor, discussed an extraordinary surge in demand for counseling centers
over the last ten years. Although a variety of issues, including relationships,
adjusting to college life, financial hardship, and injustices in society, to mention a
few, have harmed students' mental health, schools may be partly to blame for
this spike in poor mental health among students. Some of them are finding it
difficult to balance everything going on while concentrating on their studies,
which has badly impacted their academic life. However, some students disregard
their mental health in favor of their academics.

In addition, the essay "Mental Health in Schools: The Kids Are Not Right"
asserts that the mental health of pupils has gotten "from bad to worse." Flannery
talks on how stigma around mental health affects students' schooling. She points
out that even with increased knowledge of mental health issues, talking about
mental health in schools is still frowned upon. This stigma may keep students
from getting the support they require and have a detrimental effect on their
academic performance. Flannery provides evidence from a number of research
to bolster the claim that mental health problems can significantly affect kids'
academic achievement. She points out, for instance, that students who have
untreated mental health problems are more likely to skip class, discontinue their
education, or graduate late. She also points out that kids who have mental health
problems are more likely to have trouble remembering material for tests and
using their problem-solving abilities. Flannery also talks about how schools may
support students who are experiencing mental health problems and work to
combat the stigma associated with mental illness. She proposes that educational
programs for parents, teachers, and kids on mental health might be implemented
in schools, and that mental wellbeing and mental health should be given top
priority. She also points out that schools can collaborate with neighborhood
organizations to offer mental health services like counseling or treatment on
campus. Ultimately, Flannery contends that encouraging students' academic
performance and general well-being requires addressing mental health concerns
and lowering stigma associated with mental illness in schools.

Finally, Ree-Anna's UNICEF blog post "Make Schools in Jamaica a Safe Place"
highlights a significant problem influencing students' education in Jamaica: the
stigma associated with mental health. The author draws attention to the fact that
a large number of kids in Jamaica experience mental health problems like
anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, but that peers and even
school personnel frequently discriminate against and ignore these individuals.
The students' mental health issues are made worse by this stigma, which also has
a detrimental effect on their general wellbeing and academic achievement. The
article highlights how important it is for educational institutions to provide a
secure space where students can discuss their mental health issues in confidence
and without fear of being judged or criticized. In order to teach educators and
other school personnel how to recognize and handle mental health concerns in
children, UNICEF is collaborating with the government of Jamaica and other
organizations. The article also advises community members, parents, and
caregivers to actively encourage the development of a climate that is encouraging
and supportive of students' mental health. Overall, the UNICEF blog post
emphasizes how critical it is to combat the stigma around mental health in
schools and give kids the tools and assistance they require to succeed both
academically and emotionally.

I can say that after carefully reviewing all of my web sources, which I gathered,
that they are all quite trustworthy in terms of the author's reputation,
knowledge, and reliability. Author of "Students' Mental Health in Crisis," Zara
Abrams is a freelance science writer specializing in health, psychology, and
biology. She meets the qualifications in Her degrees from the University of South
Carolina include an M.A. in science journalism and a B.A. in biology. Her
writing has been published in a number of journals, including the Washington
Post. Her ability to create medical content and press releases for a range of
audiences, including major medical institutes and universities, making her a
valuable source of knowledge on the subject.

Secondly, Mary Ellen Flannery, who attended Northwestern University and

Georgetown University, is the senior editor and writer of NEA Today magazine.
She began her career as a reporter for a number of news organizations before
rising to the position of senior editor.

Last but not least, Ree-Anna Robinson, a second-year law student who has
firsthand experience with the struggle between mental health and education, has
represented Jamaica in New York at the UN, advocating for greater action to be
taken to address the needs of teenagers in terms of education and mental health.
She represented the national secondary student council and was a student at
Jamaica's Immaculate Conception High School. She is also a part of the young
UNICEF report, U-report. For information on psychology and mental health,
one credible and well-known resource is the American Psychological Association
(APA) website, www.apa.org. This reliable and authentic source has been
operational since 1892. With more than 122,000 members, the American
Psychological Association is the biggest scientific and professional association in
the country representing psychology. The website is a comprehensive resource
for mental health professionals, researchers, and the general public, and is
updated frequently with new research. The largest professional association and
labor union for educators in the US is the National Education Association (NEA),
which may be found online at www.nea.org. Teachers, administrators, and
education support professionals can find information on the website. Being in
existence since 1857, the NEA is a reliable and legitimate source. Finally, the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) website, www.unicef.org, is a global
leader in development and helping others, operating in more than 190 nations.
Being in existence since 1946, UNICEF is a reliable and genuine source. The
website offers tools and information on a variety of subjects pertaining to
welfare, education, health, and children's rights. All things considered, these
websites are reliable information sources that offer experts, scholars, and the
general public a wealth of knowledge.
In summary, there is a serious issue that impacts students' education: the stigma
associated with mental health concerns. The sources listed above highlight the
detrimental effects of mental health problems on pupils as well as the necessity of
addressing the stigma associated with mental health. The research method has
yielded insightful information on the subject. This explanatory speech's sources
are reputable and trustworthy, and they offer pertinent data on the subject. I
suggest that schools place a high priority on students' mental health and that
there be sufficient support systems in place to assist students in overcoming
mental health obstacles. Additionally, conversations about mental health need to
become less stigmatized in both society and educational institutions. Finally, it is
important to assist students in seeking mental health services and not to
stigmatize them for doing so. All things considered, the research method has been
helpful in advancing knowledge of the stigma associated with mental health
disorders and how it affects students' academic performance. To guarantee that
kids have a supportive atmosphere for learning and development, it is imperative
that this issue be addressed.