What I wish my professors knew about my mental health

Professors rarely see what emotional baggage students are carrying with them into the classroom. This could be grief, stress, trauma, or just restless nights. There needs to be around-the-clock mental health support available, especially for students who struggle to reach out.

Not too long ago, in the middle of a busy school semester, I watched my cousin, whose around my age, take his final breaths. I was there when the paramedics tried to save him, and just like that, I was expected to go back to school as if nothing happened.

I still showed up to class. I still submitted assignments. I even answered texts about group projects. But I wasn’t there. I was physically present but emotionally hollow. I did not have the courage to tell someone outside of my family circle. I wanted someone to know I was grieving—someone to talk to during those sleepless nights or heavy days—but I didn’t want to make it public or feel like a pariah for struggling.

It was not necessarily the loss that overwhelmed me but rather the silence that was around it. The expectations are to still perform at your usual level and to keep pushing. It was then that I realized how little space school truly allows for emotional recovery—especially a traumatic one. We see systems in place for missed exams, tutoring, and office hours but nothing for stricken grief. I began to wonder, what if mental support was more accessible? What if it was more private?

A lot of the time, grief doesn't always look like crying and outwardly expressing your emotional baggage. It also looks like showing up to class every day but not retaining a word, handing in assignments that did not meet the usual standards, or wanting to say something but not really knowing how.

We need more consideration and sympathy. Systems in place that better respond to the emotional realities that students could face during the school year. This means tools that don't require waiting weeks for appointments. Whether it is campus support or integrated wellness programs, schools should ensure that every student has a way to be heard and supported.

This means schools must do an amazing job at normalizing conversations around mental health while also including flexible policies for unexpected life events. They should also explore ways to offer around-the-clock access to support resources, especially for students who might not speak up.

Something like Inner Peak could have helped. Something like quiet, private support that didn’t require explanation or waiting for an appointment. It’s not always about formal counseling; sometimes, students just need someone or something to listen in the moment they’re hurting. Having access to that kind of support, especially during late nights or emotionally heavy days, could be the difference between coping and crumbling.

My cousin’s passing still lives in me, but I’ve learned that healing isn’t something you schedule between classes. It happens in quiet moments, late nights, and unspoken feelings. Students shouldn’t have to choose between their mental health and their GPA. It’s time we made space for both.

If you’re a school counselor, mental health professional, or educator looking to provide meaningful support to your students, explore how Inner Peak AI can transform the way your institution supports student mental health.