School alone cannot impact teens mental health but is a top cause of mental health for many students. It is very true that the pressures of school and academic achievement can add stress and anxiety to someones life. According to a survey done by American College Health Association, college students have communicated that their mental health was being negatively affected by, stress (30%), anxiety (22%), sleeping problems (20%), and depression (14%).
https://www.turnbridge.com/news-events/latest-articles/does-school-cause-mental-illness/#:~:text=While%20school%20alone%20does%20not,mental%20health%20struggles%20in%20students.
According to the CDC, the Covid-19 pandemic has also had an immediate effect on schools and youth. "More than 1 in 3 high school students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic and nearly half of students felt persistently sad or hopeless."
Here is a list from Navigate 360 of how school can affect a students mental health:
- Demanding academic content and excessive homework
- High-stakes tests
- Pressure from parents to gain acceptance into prestigious universities
- Peer relationships
- Lack of preparation
- Overbooked schedules
- Pressure to maintain high grades and fear of failure
- Conflicts with teachers
- Poor diet and lack of sleep
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED536513.pdf
Schools can reduce school-related stress, but complete elimination is challenging. Developing social-emotional learning skills, including self-awareness and relationship-building, is an effective way to empower students to navigate stress and other challenges that come from school. The overall well-being and success of students is important, we need to be fostering emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills in our schools.