Many battles faced today are fought within the quiet confines of our mind. In our society, there is more stress than ever before. Everything from the demands of work or school all the way to familial relationships, can be a point of anxiety in a day. What do we do when everything feels like too much? The need to find a healthy outlet is immense yet can prove to be just as difficult as the mental struggle itself. There are safe ways to let go of what’s bottled up inside. It is the victim of these ailments that must be the first to reach out and it is the responsibility of those passing by to take notice and extend a helping hand.

Here at Hoover, Mr. Steve Fricke is our school psychologist and is the person who students go to when they are struggling mentally. He serves as an outlet for students and provides a safe space where students can be comfortable to not hide their true tribulations.

“Just because you have a mental health challenge does not mean that you’re going to become violent,” Fricke said. “However, what happens is there are a lot of things that influence the violent behavior and mental health can certain exacerbate that.”

The stigma in regards to the relationship between those with mental struggles and gun violence is unjustly placed upon them. AP Psychology teacher, Mr. Jim Draher, believes there is a difference between expectation and reality.

“…a lot of people get this view that mental disorders are violent through media and that’s not the case,” Draher said. “That’s something I really want to make sure people understand is that mental disorders is one variable, gun violence is another variable. Do they overlap? At times they do. But mental disorders very, very rarely will cause violence.”

Through the curriculum taught at Hoover, Draher identifies that there are some disorders that may perpetuate violent thoughts and could identify someone as a higher risk. However, these cases are often few and far between.

“There are some that could be like antisocial personality disorder. Those are people who show no remorse,” Draher said.

Draher also goes on to say that some people may not have been formally diagnosed with a disorder but that does not mean they are exempt from the effects. 

“So if we look at behaviors of a lot of criminals that have done very extreme behaviors, they may not be diagnosed but they may show symptoms of that personality disorder,” Draher said.

While there are some correlations between specific tendencies and impulsive behavior, this is not all-or-nothing. Fricke has found through his experiences.

“Obviously, students that have ADHD or something like that can become impulsive and so…if you don’t have those coping skills, it could lead to something, especially if you have access to weapons,” Fricke said.

Before someone can find coping skills that help with the mental challenges that may be present, that person needs to first identify that there is a challenge to overcome. As an outsider, there are signs that can be seen if someone is crying out for help. It is vital that these signs are seen and whoever is struggling is given the help they need.

“If you see some erratic behaviors, change in sleep pattern, change in hygiene, change in eating patterns, just any outward sign that something may be going on internally too,” Fricke said.

Other signs appear as well, more than just the appearance of a person but also the behavior that may be displayed as well that others should pay attention to.
“If a person is really perseverating in doing something, once a plan is established, there is an eerie sense of calm about the person,” Fricke said. “What happens is, you notice this erratic behavior, you notice this change in mood and then all of a sudden, they become themselves again.”

Mrs. Tamie Eynon. a school counselor at Hoover, has been trained to help kids in crisis and through her years of experience has noted some tips that someone may be struggling.

“So I think there’s a lot of warning signs you look for in combination,” she said. “It’s never one warning sign. It’s little things building over time that we go ‘okay, those are all coming together.’”

After working in a high school for so many years, Eynon has had a lot of time to understand the peer group dynamics. Students have the ability to calm a situation. 

“…one of the things I appreciate about Hoover students is you guys take care of each other,” Eynon said. “I think it can help for the good as much as it can help for the bad.”

Understanding what words can mean to other students in good and bad ways is crucial in helping those who need help. It is extra important that the students themselves are aware of what their words do to others.

“I think, as humans, we look for a common enemy, and so sometimes, as a peer group, we’ll pick one person we have angst or ire or annoyances with and we don’t realize what that does to them,” Eynon said.

Another huge player in mental health crises stems from familial relationships. When there is dysfunction at home, students may start the day “heightened because of that argument with a parent” and there is a high likelihood of that dysfunction manifesting itself in unhealthy habits among children and teenagers.

“I don’t think a lot of parents or guardians realize that because they go onto work and they’re fine for the day, but their kid is still heightened and still up there,” Eynon said. “I think it is an important piece for parents and guardians to recognize.”

Draher identifies that genetics and the environment that students find themselves in is very important to their mental health and also their behavior.

“It could be genetic, it could be environmental. That whole nature vs. nurture debate,” Draher said. 

More than just environmental or genetic, there is a developmental aspect to the maturation of the human brain that may make someone more likely to go to an extreme measure when someone is found in a dark time. 

“The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that deals with impulsive control, problem solving, higher order thinking and so someone who is younger may act out in violence and not necessarily think it through because that part of the brain is not yet mature,” Draher said.

Fricke is aware of the power that a supportive environment could have on mental health and steer someone away from the use of violence to solve problems

“If you’re exposed to a positive, healthy relationship where you feel safe both emotionally and physically, you feel connected with people, that’s going to limit their thoughts of aggressive behavior.”

Over the years, a misconception has been built up around mental health and gun violence that has proven to not hold up under scrutiny and Fricke is a proponent of this idea.

“Mental health does not always lead towards gun violence,” Fricke said. “The act of violence could have some undertones of mental health and so you really have to get back to what it is that perpetuated that particular behavior.”

Someone in crisis will use the means around them. Anything can be used as a weapon if misused. Typically, the closest thing is what someone may end up going to.

“If you have easy access, it’s easier to use. Anything can be used as a weapon,” Fricke said. “… if you have ADHD or oppositional defiance and that’s part of your nature, if you have access to that weapon, more likely you’re going to use that before you use your coping skills.”

Eynon believes that access plays an important role in the gun violence issue sweeping our country and there is an unrealistic link between mental health and those who pick up a firearm. 

“A lot of times, people equate mental health or mental illness with the ability to harm others and in the grand scheme of things, it’s very few, and it’s not as far between as it used to be,” Eynon said. “But some of it is access. Good and bad.”

Fricke knows anyone could find themselves in a dark place at any given time. No matter what time you may find yourself in, there will always be some way to get yourself out of the trench you feel you are living in. It’s just a matter of working up the courage to start climbing.

“Just because you feel different doesn’t mean you are any less,” Fricke said.

 If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to a trusted adult, counselor, or teacher, or call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, for free and confidential support 24/7. Remember: If you see something, say something