Mental Health Is Not Just for Adults

By Minhazul Abedin Jisan

When people talk about mental health, they often think of grown-ups. Adults have jobs, bills, responsibilities — so of course they get “stressed.” But what about students like us? What about the pressure we carry every day — to get good grades, to meet expectations, to behave properly, to grow up faster than we’re ready?

I may be just 13 years old, but I know how heavy emotions can feel. I’ve seen friends fall silent for days. I’ve known classmates who were always smiling outside but crying inside. I’ve felt anxious before exams, confused about relationships, and overwhelmed just trying to be “good enough.” But we don’t always know what to call these feelings — because no one told us it’s okay to talk about them.

That’s why mental health should not be a “grown-up topic.” That’s why I joined Project Talk Hope — a campaign led by children and teenagers like me who believe that emotional well-being starts in classrooms, not clinics. As the Child Coordinator of Talk Hope, I help organize peer discussions in schools. We don’t use complicated psychology terms. We simply ask, “How are you really feeling?”

And you’ll be surprised how powerful that question is.

One day, during a school session, a younger boy quietly raised his hand. He said, “Can I talk to you later?” That one sentence meant everything. It meant he trusted me — someone like him — to listen without judging. We sat down after the session and just talked. He didn’t need advice. He needed someone to hear him.

That’s what Talk Hope is about. It’s not about speeches or events. It’s about being present.

Mental health is not a “later” issue. It starts now — in childhood, in our schools, in our homes. Children feel. Children break. And children, too, need healing. But they also have an incredible capacity to support each other — if we only trust them.

If we wait until children become adults to talk about their feelings, we’ve already waited too long.

I dream of a Bangladesh where emotional education is as important as math. Where class monitors also check on classmates’ moods. Where “Are you okay?” becomes a normal part of school life.

I know I’m still young. I still mess up. I still have bad days. But I also know this:
If someone had talked to me when I was scared, maybe I’d have healed sooner.
If someone had listened, maybe I’d have spoken earlier.

So now I’m trying to be that “someone” — for the next child who feels unheard.

Final Thought:

Mental health is not just for adults.
It’s for the 7-year-old who’s afraid of asking questions.
It’s for the 12-year-old who’s scared of losing friends.
It’s for the 15-year-old who seems happy — but isn't.

It’s for all of us. Right here. Right now.