Back to School Stress: How One High School Senior Is Championing Mental Health

by Beth Trimarco

Leona Liu, NAMI on Campus leader

As students across California gear up for a new academic year, many are carrying more than just backpacks. From social anxiety to academic pressure, teens are navigating a mental health landscape shaped by technology, a newly developing sense of identity and the ever-rising expectations of success.

For Leona Liu, a Southern California high school senior, she’s both lived and witnessed the emotional toll of adolescence firsthand. “Being a teenager is rough,” she said. “We’re trying to figure out who we are, what we want to be — and that’s already a lot. But what really gets to us is the overthinking.”

Liu is part of NAMI on Campus, a student-led club affiliated with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and supported by Blue Shield of California’s BlueSky youth mental health initiative. As the club’s secretary, Liu helps organize peer-to-peer mental health education, outreach events and creative campaigns aimed at breaking stigma and building connection.

“We’re trying to bring together a community of people who are OK talking about mental health struggles,” said Liu. “It’s about sharing our own experiences and healing from them."

A generation of pressure

With the start of the school year comes the return of early mornings and packed schedules. Liu’s school is known for academic excellence, a point of pride that can also be a pressure cooker. “SATs, AP tests, college apps — it’s constant,” she said. “There’s also pressure from our parents. But honestly, a lot of the stress comes from ourselves. We want to succeed. We want to make it worth it.”

This pressure is also tied to identity and worth. “We stay up late, studying and worrying. It’s not just physical exhaustion. It’s emotional.” And the stress is often compounded by digital communication. “Texting and social media add another layer,” said Liu. “You can’t see someone’s face or hear their tone, so you end up overanalyzing. One of my friends spiraled just because someone used a period at the end of a text.”

Finding connection in the chaos

That’s where NAMI on Campus comes in. Liu’s school club has more than 70 members — with 40 to 50 showing up to biweekly meetings. The group hosts a range of connection points, from mental health assemblies to amphitheater pop-ups, encouraging students to seek support, share their stories and engage with school counselors and psychologists. “We made a public service announcement (PSA) video where we interviewed our school counselors and others,” said Liu. “That awareness can make a huge difference.”

When the pressure peaks, Liu and her friends turn to each other. She says the real damage comes when students feel like they’re going through it on their own. “It doesn’t take much to support someone. Sometimes we just get together for a study session, vent about the week and feel better by the end of it. It’s about knowing we’re not alone.”

For her own mental health, Liu turns to painting and tennis. “Painting helps me reflect — I get to focus on just one thing,” she said. “And tennis connects me to my friends and family. We play together on Sundays, and it’s a great way to unwind.”

Youth voice, youth power

Programs like NAMI on Campus are elevated by Blue Shield of California’s BlueSky initiative, which supports community-based organizations to improve youth mental health in schools across the state.

“BlueSky is built on the belief that youth voices matter,” said Paula Ambrose, Blue Shield’s principal of Corporate Citizenship who heads up BlueSky. “We’re proud to support programs like NAMI on Campus, where students are leading the way — not just talking about mental health, but actively shaping how their communities respond to it.”

As the school year begins, Liu hopes more students feel empowered to speak up — and seek help. “Talking about your struggles isn’t weakness,” she said. “It takes strength to be honest. You never know who you’ll help — including yourself.”

For more information on the National Alliance on Mental Illness, visit NAMI and NAMI On Campus. For more on Blue Shield of California’s BlueSky youth mental health initiative, visit BlueSky.