Almost everyone has been affected by depression at some point. And to whoever is reading this, I hope it didn't hit you or someone you know too hard.
Being close with my family, I recently asked my 15-year-old cousin if she has ever felt depressed. She hesitated, but said something along the lines of, "No, I'm not, but some of my friends are." She went on to inform me a couple of her friends had been in and out of mental hospitals in the hopes of curing their depression. She also mentioned one of those friends was transsexual.
Although I was relieved to hear my cousin was happy with herself, she is still affected by depression because her friends turn to her for comfort and solitude.
Time to talk about what needs to be addressed immediately and changed.
I refuse to direct this concern solely towards females. Males in middle school are also on the track to discovering who they are, too.
Middle school is time when cliques form, students can play sports for their school, and self images are shaped.
According to the National Association of Psychology (NASP), in a school of 1,000 students, as many as 100 may be experiencing depression or mood swings severe enough to warrant a psychiatric diagnosis.
I spoke with local Utica Community Schools teachers about student awareness on depression, bullying, and incidents where students approached them about depression.
When I asked 9th grade English teacher, Mrs. Sarah LaCombe of Jeannette Junior High, if she often sees students being bullied in school she said, "Yes. Name calling, rude comments in the classroom, Some students may be unaware of hurting another’s feelings to certain extents. My #1 rule is respect. There is more awareness and handling of situations more now than ever.
"William Szlaga, a football, 7th grade and varsity basketball coach, and track coach within Utica Community Schools, says bullying is not tolerated on his team or in the classroom. "When I am approached with a bullying problem, I send the bully and the student being bullied to the office to discuss the issue, teachers become involved, and suspension from the team and school may be necessary."
Teachers want bullying to end just as much as the students who are bullied do.
Yet, clearly, bullying isn't going to up and disappear from our lives like we all wish it would. Whether it's in person with a dirty look or a false rumor, or if it's hiding behind a computer screen spewing toxic words to hurt another's feelings, it is a worldwide problem. It is what trigger students' depressive thoughts and feelings.
Middle school students lose sight of being a genuine teenager. They start to see themselves for what they aren't. We need to help them find themselves again.
In this stage, students often look to their middle school teachers for guidance.
A Spanish and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) teacher at Jeannette Junior High, Mrs. Jodi Ruiz, is a teacher in which multiple students count on as an ear for venting to, a shoulder to cry on, and a laugh on a bad day. At least, this is what I exhibited during our interview.
Ruiz, who is famous for saying, "Everything happens for a reason,", is often relied on by students who look to her for advice on home problems, friend problems, and problems with depression. When asked about an occurring problem with students, she emphasized the worry of social media effects on the students.
"Students live 3 different lives and take on 3 different personas: home life, school life, and online life," Ruiz explains. Our interview ended as another student asked for her, then I witnessed Mrs. Ruiz hug a crying student as I exited our interview.
It is important for teachers to be reliable for students as mentors. The ones that do, leave a long-lasting impact on their students.
Suicide awareness assemblies have been trending in middle schools in the hopes of informing students on the signs of someone who is suicidal and what they should do if they are feeling suicidal.
The end of the conversation with my 15-year-old cousin consisted of reassurance that it is curable, that she is a great friend for supporting her friends, and that if she ever starts to feel consistently sad, she has a family to keep her head on her shoulders. An hour after I took her home, I received a 'thank you' text. She feels better knowing her friends can be helped, and because she is more educated, she can pass on her new wisdom to her friends and potentially, save a friend.
***If you or someone you know are depressed or showing intentions of suicide please contact the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1 (800) 273-8255***
