Training Hard, Studying Harder, Resting Nowhere: Why Action Towards Mental Health is Required

Logan Flores-Peoples, Guest Writer from Global Human Rights Advocacy 

Note: This article was written by a student of Dr. Meghan Cohen, in the class, Global Human Rights Advocacy. The Highlander is proud to serve as a platform for guest contributions and encourages collaboration between our community and our publication. 

In 1843, “mental hygiene” was known to“preserve the mind from all incidents and influences calculated to deteriorate”, being the first introduction to what we know today - Mental Health. Mental Health is a huge issue that everyone is aware of and familiar with today. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Mental Health is “a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community”. It is important to acknowledge that it “is a basic human right”. These are facts that the growing generation knows by heart. People back then weren’t familiar with the true definition and context of mental health, until deaths by suicide took a toll in recent years, hinting that people’s states of mind were a leading cause. We see the growing issue of mental health and people losing their lives due to many factors, negatively impacting their mental health. 

The World Health Organization (WHO), estimates that approximately 727,000 people die by suicide every year worldwide, with millions attempting to. That’s 60,583.3 people a month, 13,980.8 people a week, and 1,991.8 people in a single day. According to Worldometers, so far in 2026, there have been over 95,000 deaths from suicide, highlighting the major public health challenge. According to Pew, mental health is one of the risk factors that elevates the likelihood of suicidal thoughts being present or suicide happening.

While the reasons vary, there are many opportunities and room for preventing what could lead to suicide that may be happening in our backyard. As of today, 12 states have passed a law permitting public schools to allow students to have mental health days. Research shows that the mental health days have positively impacted students and allowed them to return with no penalty or decline in their academics. The proposed stance is to allow students at Regis University to take mental health days when needed, without penalty to their semester standing. The closest and legal way of providing credibility is by allowing this to be present. If a student needs two or more off days for their mental health, then counseling would be mandatory (provided by the school). This ensures that the days are being used to the benefit of the students, while also allowing Regis University to ensure that the days are reliable and truthful.       

Texas is leading the nation in suicide deaths with an estimated 4,382. Colorado ranks twelfth with an estimated 1,297 deaths. One could say that the sizes contribute to the gap between the two states. However, in Texas, the age group at highest risk is 20-24. These ages are typically the college-student age. Texas is top 5 for possessing the most universities and colleges with over a million enrolled students. 

Being a San Antonio Native, I mourn for the lives that have been lost by suicide in Texas alone. The ages are near my age and are around the college student ages of freshmen to seniors. This issue must be brought into recognition, and action must be taken. 

There is no controversy when it comes to the number of suicides in America, let alone the world. However, there are two controversial statements when it comes to my stance. One being that the suicides were due to other issues related to mental health, but medication was not involved. This statement shows that having off days wouldn’t be beneficial to these students. However, it is an inappropriate statement to make, not being fully aware and understanding of their situation. The issues vary from academic, athletic, and personal burnout. While not knowing the issues, we need to remain in action for the safety of our students’ lives. Another controversial statement is that these days would be abused by students taking advantage of these days and using them elsewhere. This statement is solved with the proposed stance that counseling would be involved on the second day and on. 

If burnout is “a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress”, then what are we calling the culture that we celebrate on campus? Success? Or slow-breakdown? We talk about excellence - but can excellence exist without balance? Cura personalis calls for us to care for the person fully for who they are, not just their performance. So what are the products that Regis is producing - Resilient leaders or Exhausted achievers? If Regis values the community and the student body, then shouldn’t we value the safety and well-being of everyone? Excellence doesn’t thrive on exhaustion, but on recovery.