Tackling Mental Health
The success of any movement heavily depends on the strength of its leader. We will always remember the contributions of Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and Harvey Milk to their respective movements. Although social leaders tackle their individual objectives uniquely, they all share one attribute: they are members of the groups whose civil rights they champion. The first people to step up for African American rights were predominantly African Americans, for gay rights gay people, and for feminism, women. While it is perfectly logical and acceptable, this model of cultural movements cannot sustain itself for every social issue.
Especially with regards to the issue of mental health, the ability to retain a leader that represents the wider community becomes even more complicated. Like other marginalized groups, those who have a mental illness are often denied civil rights and need a holistic support system spearheaded by a capable leader. There is often a lack of government funding for scholastic programs assisting students with mental illness. Hurtful language and discrimination abounds in and out of the workplace, aimed towards people struggling with their conditions. Furthermore, people with mental health issues are frequently arrested and put in jail instead of being appropriately placed in a hospital or another place suitable for rehabilitation.
As stated earlier, the first person to stand up for a certain group’s interests throughout history has frequently been a member of that group itself. If this logic is applied to mental health issues, people who have to live with illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia would have to be the ones to advocate for themselves. While many who live with mental illness are indeed incredibly strong, evidenced in their courage to seek out help, we overburden those who struggle daily with mentally-debilitating disorders to step up and become an activist. A leadership role would only further mentally and physically strain such a volunteer. Everyone who has a mental illness should make getting help, not leading others, their first priority.
With few instances of relatable leading voices, mental health has repeatedly taken a backseat to race and gender issues on both a local and national level. In my entire Exeter career (two and a half years and counting), I have rarely witnessed mental health discussed outside of prep health class. With insufficient promotion of the services offered by the counseling department, students with mental health issues are likely to remain silent. So, only one solution to this problem exists: we as a community must stand together and inform students with mental illnesses that we are there for them. Whether this manifests itself through more Assembly speakers centering their presentations on mental health, putting up posters with a positive attitude around campus or spreading information about the counseling services at Exeter on a more frequent basis, we have a responsibility to respond regardless of whether we grapple with a mental illness or not. People with mental health issues can certainly assist and help lead such campaigns, but we can collectively reinforce their efforts and truly bring the mental health movement to the forefront. By doing this, we create a more welcoming, warm and healthy Exeter environment that everyone will be proud to be a part of. This positive cultural shift in our community simply requires the active support of people who may not personally struggle, but still care about the people around them.