The Silent Epidemic (Poster 62)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Seven
  In Poster Session: Youth Teams in Education Research Poster Session

Abstract

The absence of mental health care facilities is a prevailing issue in American high schools affecting a substantial amount of individuals every year. My research was one of the many initiatives required to address this core problem- particularly the impact of lack of resources stemming from underfunding and the misallocation of resources that are available.
The prerogative during the preliminary stages of the research was to analyze why students were hesitant to reach out for help even though more than one third of the students in my high school reported feeling persistently sad or helpless and deteriorating standards of mental health.
My findings gathered through anonymous surveys suggested that the derogatory societal label of being the ‘problematic child’ inculcated within the students deep resentment towards the social workers and faculty specifically hired to cater to them, perpetuating the feeling of ostracization and prevented them from reaching out for help.
Additionally, my school having only one licensed worker to cater to the student body of over 600 students particularly stood out to me and prompted me to dig deeper into studying the correlation between the funding allocated towards a school and the students’ mental health, especially in Title 1 schools located in high crime neighborhoods. Interviewing the social worker at my school revealed the much deeper rooted, systematic problem in addition to the lack of resources and stigmatization such as the impact of dismissive teachers and parents, academic pressure, alienation caused by societal judgment, gang related activities etc.
Authorities need to address this issue on an urgent basis to prevent the generational impact poor mental health has on our nation as a whole. Something that might seem trivial, such as the decreasing graduation rates in a particular neighborhood, can prove to be extremely detrimental.

Authors

• Limarys Caraballo, Teachers College, Columbia University
  Presenting Author

• Fatima Farrukh, Youth Teams in Education Research
  Presenting Author