LOOKING PAST THE MASK

   As you walk through West High, the hallways are filled with students laughing, smiling and talking with their friends. Despite what you might see, 15% of high school students in America suffer from a mental illness such as depression on a daily basis. Here at West, Behind the Mask (BTM) aims to stop the stigma of mental illness and raise awareness as well as provide a safe place for those suffering. Named after the idea that many teens who have a mental illness hide under their “happy mask” to face the day, Behind the Mask meets on Tuesdays in room 137 to talk about and address how their day went or discuss something that’s bothering them.

Several of the students who attend frequently have learned to help and teach each other the things they’ve learned that help with coping.

“I like to write, draw, and listen to music as a distraction,” said a senior attending BTM. “When I’m anxious, I listen to calming classical music.” A tenth grader then added. Coping is way to deal with what you feel, for many with mental illnesses, not knowing how to cope with something huge in their life triggered their illness, or not knowing how to cope with the mental illness they already had only made it worse. At BTM students share their coping methods with each other in an attempt to help each other out with whatever is happening around them.

In 2013, the rate of Major Depressive Episode (MDE) among females aged 12-17 jumped from 11.7% in 2009 to an alarming 16.2% and has since then only continued to rise. While the number of adolescent females likely to develop signs of and/or suffer from mental illness has increased, the rate of adolescent males suffering has stayed relatively the same in the upper 4 to lower 5 percentile range since 2009. With today’s technology and access to the internet, one of the biggest trends in hospital inpatient admissions has been due to cyber-bullying and other issues stemming from social media. It is very possible that the trends from increased depression in teens are from the growing popularity of virtual interactions as they’re meant to connect, but aren’t a substitute for human interaction.

       Guidance counselor, Amy Kanellis, who is also the club supervisor, helps cultivate a nonjudgmental environment for students who attend BTM meetings. However, the whole club started with a group of students who wanted to help stop the stigma of mental illness and help others dealing with similar issues. Did you know every 100 minutes a teen suicide occurs because they are often struggling with depression? Individuals with serious mental illness are challenged doubly; on one side with the limitations and symptoms of their sickness, and on the other with the stereotypes and prejudice resulting from misconceptions about mental illnesses. As a result of both, people with mental illness are essentially robbed of what it feels like to be human. Self-stigma and public-stigma are both devastating and painful together, and on their own. This often pushes individuals to feel unwanted and alone, only making the impact of their illness more magnified. With a purpose to help end the stigma, Behind the Mask has worked hard to create awareness among students and staff at West. As less a therapy group but more as a supportive, safe place, BTM is a place where many feel at home.

“It’s a place where you don’t get judged; it may not help like medication does, but it’s a place where you can just be you, and that really helps some kids.” Kanellis said. There are many small things that can be done to help people who suffer from depression and other illnesses, such as not being insensitive and listening to what people have to say about it. “People use the word depression so lightly but it’s not a word you should just throw around,” Kanellis said. “You need to just sit back and let people talk. So many people feel like their voices can’t be heard. If we just sat back to listen, maybe we’d realize that everyone has a story to tell.”