There’s a lot going on.

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus expressed the notion that “the only constant in life is change.” At times, that change is more constant than others.

Your teen years are a season of intense, unrelenting transition, fraught with all kinds of challenges. Yes, hormones are swirling, but things are legitimately flying at you fast and furious – academic stress, family dynamics, navigating friendships, relationships, your identity. Figuring out where you fit in, where you’re going to sit at lunch. Let alone trying to decide what comes after high school.

In the wider world, social media bombards you with images of what you are “supposed” to look like, do, and be.

And in the last two years alone, we’ve endured political upheaval, the fallout of systemic racism, the growing impact of climate change, and the genuine loss and collective trauma brought on by the pandemic, which drastically altered our social lives and school experiences.

If it feels like there’s a lot going on, it’s because it’s true.

So as you head back to campus this fall, here are four things to keep in mind.

Mental health challenges are incredibly common

If you are struggling with your mental health, you are not alone. Far from it.

The World Health Organization reports that one billion people are living with a mental health condition. One billion. Including one in seven young people.

In America, the number is even higher. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that the prevalence of “any mental disorder” among young people is 49.5%. One in two. That’s you or the person next to you.

That was before COVID. During the pandemic, the incidence of anxiety and depression worldwide rose 25% percent. So much so that the U.S. Surgeon General has issued an urgent public warning about the youth mental health crisis. The American Academy of Pediatrics has declared “a national emergency.”

So if you’re having a hard time, it’s no wonder. And you’re in good company.

Mental health issues are part of being human

Mental health is health. Full stop. Your brain is part of your body. An incredibly complex and extraordinary part of you, but part of you nonetheless.

The mental health advocacy organization Inseparable puts it this way: “The health of our minds cannot be separated from the health of our bodies. Because we all go through hard times. We get anxious and depressed. For some of us, it’s clinical. For all of us, it matters.”

There’s an odd perception that mental – as opposed to physical – health is somehow shameful or talking about it should be taboo. But where’s the shame in being sick or having cancer?

In May 2022, Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young opened up to Child Mind Institute as part of their “Dare to Share” campaign. He revealed his long-standing struggle with anxiety and how finally talking about it with a coach led to life-changing therapy.

“I really do look at it as being lost in the woods when a park ranger comes by. Would you feel ashamed to ask him for directions?”

The same applies to struggles with mental health. If you had a broken leg, you wouldn’t go without a cast, he reasoned. We need to “make this less shameful. It would be foolish not to ask for help.”

Mental health conditions are treatable

If you have diabetes, insulin is a lifesaver. If something is biologically off within the brain, medications are available. Because the brain is so complex, there’s an element of trial and error in finding the treatment that works for you. But for many, medication makes all the difference in the world, enabling them to “feel like themselves” again. Many people wonder why they didn’t ask for help sooner.

Or if you’re stuck in a pattern of thinking that’s getting you nowhere, remember that thoughts can change. Thoughts are not facts. Neither are feelings. Both can be brought in line to support and build up the real, true you.

Some people invest their passion, intelligence, and education into learning to help people sort through their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. They are called therapists. Their work is powerful and valuable. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, who won eight gold medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics, later spiraled downward into a “very dark place.” He credits therapy with saving his life and helping him learn to be his “authentic self.”

Mental health struggles can be the start of something new

What if the hard things you’re facing – and the ways you are struggling to cope – are not a sign that there’s something “wrong” with you but that you are worthy of being heard? That deep down, you matter?

What would it look like to let someone in and know you won’t be judged? That you don’t have to carry that burden in secret?

At CASSY, we believe that everyone struggles.

But no one should struggle alone.

That’s why our therapists are located on campus, so you can be seen and known right where you are. We all need someone in our corner.

So as you go back to school and face a new set of circumstances this fall, remember:

You matter.

We are here.

Our door is open.

We’re saving a seat for you.

CASSY (Counseling and Support Services for Youth) provides on-campus, professional mental health services to students and their families free of charge. We partner with elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the Bay Area in our mission to destigmatize mental health care and make emotional well-being the norm for all students.

This article was published in the August/September 2022 edition of The Outlook, a publication of the Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council (SASCC).