What Schools Get Wrong About Mental Health (And How Students Would Fix It)
94% of Students Say School Mental Health Programs Are Failing—Here’s Why
The Assembly That Changed Nothing
The gym is packed. Hundreds of students sit in rows, waiting for yet another mental health assembly.
A guest speaker takes the stage. They talk about stress, anxiety, and self-care. They tell students to speak up, reach out, and ask for help when they need it.
The bell rings.
Students shuffle out, back to class, back to their lives. And nothing changes.
For 94% of students, these programs feel like a waste of time, irrelevant, uninspiring, and completely disconnected from what they actually need.
And they’re not wrong.
If we’re serious about helping students navigate their mental health, it’s time to stop talking at them, and start listening to them.
One-Size-Fits-All Programs Don’t Work
Mental and emotional health isn’t one-size-fits-all, yet schools treat it that way.
Every student faces different struggles:
Some battle crippling anxiety over grades and social pressure.
Others feel completely alone and have no idea who to turn to.
Some deal with trauma at home that no assembly can fix.
Many wish they had a friend to talk to.
But they all get the same mental health program.
What students say:
"It’s always the same message, but no one actually asks us what we need,” said a 16-year-old female student at a Toronto public high school.
Imagine being stuck in quicksand and someone hands you a first-aid kit instead of a rope. That’s how students feel about these programs.
If we want to help, we need to start asking the right questions, not just handing them pre-packaged solutions.
Mental Health Talks That Miss the Mark
Students today face an entirely different world than previous generations.
Social media pressure is constant.
Academic stress is overwhelming.
The world feels unstable and uncertain.
Where do they learn about suicide, addiction, cyberbullying, understanding their emotions and the difficult topics the schools shy away from?
And yet, the mental health programs in schools don’t reflect this reality.
Instead, students hear the same recycled advice:
“Just reach out if you’re struggling.”
“Try mindfulness.”
“Mental health matters.”
It’s not that these statements are wrong, they’re just not enough.
A student battling depression doesn’t need to hear another motivational talk. They need real support.
A student drowning in anxiety doesn’t need a vague reminder to “take breaks”, they need tools that help.
If students say these programs aren’t working, then why are we still running them the same way?
Are Schools Doing This for Optics or for Impact?
Let’s be honest.
Most schools don’t implement mental health programs because they’re effective. They do it because it looks good and it’s on their “checklist”.
A guest speaker comes in once a year? ✅
A mental health awareness day is held? ✅
Pamphlets are handed out? ✅
It checks a box. It makes schools look like they’re doing something.
But ask students if these programs actually help them, and nearly all of them will say no. Ask your teen if what they are learning about mental health is useful!
What students say:
"They tell us to talk, but there’s no one to actually listen."
Mental health programs shouldn’t be about optics, they should be about outcomes.
It’s time to ditch the performative programs and build something real.
What If Students Designed Their Own Mental Health Programs?
Here’s a radical idea: Instead of assuming we know what’s best for students, why not ask them?
Imagine if schools involved students in designing mental health programs:
What do you actually need?
What kind of support would make a real difference?
How do you want to learn about mental health?
Instead of handing students a pre-planned curriculum, let them help create one.
Because no one understands what students need better than students themselves.
What Real Mental Health Support Could Look Like
If schools listened to students, mental health programs might include:
✅ Small discussion groups instead of one giant assembly
✅ Peer-led programs where students feel safe opening up
✅ Access to trained mental health professionals, not just overbooked guidance counselors
✅ Check-ins throughout the year, not just one mental health event every few months
Because real change doesn’t happen in a 45-minute talk. It happens through consistent, meaningful support.
The Call to Action: It’s Time to Listen
If 94% of students say school mental health programs aren’t helping, then they aren’t helping.
Schools can’t keep running these programs just to check a box.
They need to start listening.
They need to involve students in designing solutions.
Because if the current system isn’t working, then what’s the harm in trying something new?
Your Turn:
Do you think students should have a say in designing mental health programs?
