Mental health disorders are a serious public health concern because they occur frequently; affect the health and quality of life of individuals and increase the risk of suicide. Depression is now the leading cause of disability worldwide, and recent studies published in Lancet found that when we look at all diseases that affect the lives of young people aged 10-24 years, 45 per cent are due to mental illnesses.

“When we don’t understand something, we tend to be afraid of it”. We stereotype, we stigmatize, and we worry about what others will think if we say we have mental illness. This can mean that young people or their families keep their problems a secret rather than seek help.

Mental health is an important part of our health, therefore we need to feel comfortable talking about it, and discussion should be just as ordinary as when we talk about nutrition, lung, or cardiovascular health.  We would understand what it means to be mentally healthy, could recognize when to seek help if something not be quite right, and openly accept others who talk about their emotional problems. In other words, “We need to talk about it”.

The school environment can play a very important role towards this goal. Incorporating mental health concepts in school curriculum—helping youth talk about mental health at a young age—could help reduce stigma. For example  talking about healthy feelings, and how to express them in a constructive manner; learning about body image and positive self-identity; learning how to make decisions that help move towards ones goals, and also recognizing warning signs that alert us that it may be time to talk to a trusted adult or to seek help are skills that our children will benefit for a lifetime.