What factors are overlooked in student mental health?

A lot of people don't realize that stress and loneliness can really hurt a student's brain, like when you're playing a game and your friend walks away.

Imagine school is like a big playground. Some kids have a lot of friends, they laugh, play tag, and share their snacks, these are the happy ones. But some kids feel like they’re stuck on the side of the playground by themselves, watching everyone else have fun. This feels like loneliness.

Another thing people don’t see is the invisible backpack that some students carry every day. Inside it, there’s worry about grades, arguments with family, or even not knowing what to do when things go wrong. It's heavy and makes it hard for them to run fast or jump high, like trying to play tag while carrying a bag of bricks.

Sometimes people think the only problem is if students cry or get angry. But really, loneliness and that invisible backpack are two big reasons why student mental health gets left behind.