LETTER FROM THE STAFF

Seniors are burned out and hyperfocused on their futures. Juniors anxiously balance standardized tests and growing college lists. Freshmen and sophomores apprehensively prepare for the coming years. Whether caused by typical high school experiences, effects of the pandemic or other circumstances, mental health issues are phenomena strongly present in high school students. The natural consequence is that such phenomena have become a regular subject of conversation. In an era of unprecedented openness about these struggles, something grounded in science is highly influenced by subjective fact: everyone has an opinion.

Commentary has largely sorted itself into a spectrum, with one extreme stigmatizing mental health issues and the other, popularizing them to a fault. De-stigmatization has largely taken priority, which is absolutely great for many students with sincere issues. Historically, many who have suffered through severe mental disorders have been those most severely lacking access to any service or care. Today, therapy, medicine and much-needed support have become more accessible. Online resources have allowed people who can’t afford a professional diagnosis to validate their struggle. Unfortunately, even conversations grounded in good intentions can have negative side effects — including the often hand-in-hand issues of misdiagnosis and overdiagnosis. Phrases like, ‘I definitely have ADHD’ have become casual remarks because mental health has become normalized to a point where it can unfortunately be used as a quick band-aid, failing to address the real issue. Both misdiagnoses and overdiagnoses are made in an effort to treat a condition, sometimes without actually understanding what said condition is. Although many neurodivergent disorders share symptoms, how they are treated greatly varies. Improper medicines or counseling techniques may worsen a person’s condition while they try to survive in a society that judges their struggles as imaginary or not what the condition ‘should look like.’ Overdiagnosing similarly clouds effective treatment, complicating already-nuanced issues.

Some attribute this issue to media development or social contagion while others attribute it to a larger holistic cultural change occurring in society. While

Social Media Editors

Anna Sandage

Ella Thomas

Web Editors

Sejin Hahn

Calla Jordan

PODCAST HOSTS

Calla Jordan

Abi Patterson many agree that varying extents of these factors may impact the issue, dismissing this phenomenon as a mere byproduct of just one root cause is ignorant of many nuances — the same ignorance that has tainted diagnostic practices and clouded the efficiency of mental health treatment.

The centerfold of this issue explores the dangers of misdiagnosing and overdiagnosing, on both scientific and emotional levels. We understand that there are many conversations to be had surrounding mental health, but we hope to further inform our readers about just one of the many complex aspects in hopes of fostering a culture at BVN that is open about mental health without glorifying or haphazardly treating a genuine struggle that many in our community face.

Sincerely, The North Star Staff