For East students who constantly feel like their brains are unraveling, mental health is an everyday conversation. The National Alliance on Mental Illness’s 2022 Mental Illness Awareness Week from Oct. 3 to Oct. 7 provides an opportunity to learn, understand and support those who battle with mental health issues. Each day has a different theme that allows us to look deeper at mental illness’ effect on East.

Oct. 3 begins with breaking “Stigmas.”

While Generation Z has been a trailblazer for mental health awareness, shame and misconceptions prevail. From children told to “suck it up” to those raised in open and supportive homes, East students experience a range of opinions regarding emotional distress outside of school.

Tuesday is themed “Medication.”

Deemed "crazy pills" or "addictive toxins” by critics, anxiolytics, antidepressants and mood stabilizers can be considered an “easy way out.” Others may see not taking them as a sign that an illness isn’t that bad, invalidating a teen’s struggles. There are arguments to medicate and not to medicate — in the end, it's an individual decision.

Wednesday is called “Therapy.”

Our generation may be more accepting of those struggling internally, but outdated mentalities of addressing illnesses are still deeply woven in our institutions. In therapy, mental health centers and the rest of the American health system, improvements can be made in addressing our struggles.

Thursday is for “Disclosing.”

Ignorance easily blinds us to our peers and personal inner battles. Whether it’s trading sleep for a stacked college application, pumping iron until our bodies snap or seeing a stranger reflected in the mirror, students face unrealistic pressures that are normalized in East’s highly competitive environment. To address and overcome these issues, one must first open their own eyes and seek perspective.

The week ends with “Caregiving.”

In high school, our minds must unravel a bit to wrap around drama, activities, assignments and emotional fluctuations. Each challenge presents opportunities for personal growth and real-world understanding, but students must remind each other to balance excellence with well-being. The same way muscles need rest days, brains need peers and resources to untangle them.