Surviving secondary school: a story of mental health in adolescence
| Published date | 01 November 2019 |
| Pages | 162-165 |
| Date | 01 November 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-06-2019-0017 |
| Author | Carys J. Morley |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
Surviving secondary school: a story of
mental health in adolescence
Carys J. Morley
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to share experiences of attending a secondary school with mental
health difficulties and provide tips for coping. It is the first in a series of three papers exploring mental health at
different stages of education.
Design/methodology/approach –A narrative, first-person approach is taken.
Findings –Advice and tips for both adolescents experiencing mental health difficulties and teachers
are provided.
Originality/value –The paper is one person’s experiences andtherefore unique. It contributes a voice to the
much-needed discussion on teenagers and mental health, and promotes an understanding of mental health
to both teenagers who may be experiencing difficulties and those who know such teenagers.
Keywords Adolescence, Mental health
Paper type Viewpoint
Although becoming increasingly acknowledged and understood, mental health issues in
teenagers are often reduced to “phases”,“hormones”or “just part of growing up”. At least, this
was my experience in school. I am 22, and I have been suffering from various mental illnesses for
over a decade –including depression, anxiety, PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder. I went
through school, sixth form, and most of university, without any support. Secondary school was
an avalanche of depression. Sixth form was a hurricane of anxiety. University was acceptance.
Now I am learning to manage my illness.
This is the first in a series of three papers, exploring each level of education and the impact mental
illness can have on both education and being a young person in general. This piece will begin the
series with secondary school.
My story
I distinctly remember the first time I felt something akin to depression. I was six years old, and I
had just gotten home from school. I sat inside and heard children outside, giggling amongst each
other. It occurred to me that no one wanted to spend time with me outside of school. I concluded
that I must be awful.
It did not improve. By the time I was 13, and far into secondary school, I was struggling. I was
moody, defensive, easily angered, spoke bluntly (and therefore had very few friends), fell asleep
during lessons, was fanatical about my hair and had regular panic attacks. I was all but
convinced that I was the worst person in the world and that there was no reason to live. I threw
my mum’s lovingly made packed lunches away more often that I ate them. I spent my evenings
right through to very early mornings online –going into chat rooms, creating personas on games,
trolling the forums –pretending to be anyone else except myself.
I was bullied mercilessly. I was an awkward-looking teenager, and my peers did not hesitate to
point it out, branding me “rank”,a“proper minger”(see: 2009 slang for “ugly”). It did not upset
me. I knew it was true, but I did not need reminding. I grew an absurdly long side fringe to cover
my face. “Nice hair”, they would say, with a smile dripping in sarcasm.
Carys J. Morley is an
Independent Writer based
in Leeds, UK.
PAGE162
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MENTALHEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
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VOL. 23 NO. 4 2019, pp. 162-165, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/MHSI-06-2019-0017
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