At Signet, we strive to treat our students as whole people, not just as students struggling with a particular subject. For that reason, we think mental health is an important thing to talk about. Sometimes the academic issues that are causing you and your parents so much frustration have their roots in mental health issues, and if that’s the case, then getting a proper diagnosis can make a huge difference in your overall success.
To help you increase your and your family’s awareness of the factors that contribute to mental health and the signs that might indicate a mental health issue, we’ve put together a simple Mental Health Checklist. This is not a comprehensive diagnostic tool. Rather, it’s something to be used for reflection and as a conversation starter.
We recommend that you print the checklist and spend some time filling it out and writing out the longer answers. Then, have a discussion with your parents. We know this is difficult, and might not be possible in all families, but it’s important to think through what your answers might mean for your life moving forward.
There are no right or wrong answers here. We are simply trying to help start a conversation about mental health between you and your parents. Of course, if you find that many of your answers indicate some underlying issues, we strongly recommend you make an appointment with your primary care provider or a school counselor to discuss this in more depth. A well-timed preventative appointment can save weeks, months, or even years of difficulty.
