Letter to the editor: We need to help young people learn to deal with stress

The article “Shapiro talks mental health, budget plans with Hempfield Area High School students” (May 17, TribLIVE) cited students “asking for help” to deal with stress at school by seeking to start classes later and decrease class workloads, etc. Mental health is not achieved by decreasing the stress of life but rather by increasing the ability to handle it.

Stress is associated with success in life, whether raising a family, running a business or overcoming obstacles required to achieve any desirable goal. Young people need to learn to cope with stressors and setbacks, develop positive attitudes and work hard to develop the knowledge and skills needed to acquire success while avoiding drugs and alcohol as an escape from life’s difficulties.

It is not necessary to be perfect, but one can always strive to be better and learn to accept things that are beyond our control by having faith in our higher power and hoping for a better future. I recommend that instead of sheltering young people from the stress of life, to help strengthen and encourage them to cope with the stress incumbent on the success of life. If that doesn’t work, we can always rely on another multimillion-dollar government program.

Dr. Joel I. Last

Greensburg