With a tragic rise in gun violence and school shootings over the past few weeks, the decades old debate is yet again brought up: when do thoughts and prayers become too little? In American politics, things often seem all or nothing. Ban all guns or allow teenagers to own assault riffles. The solution is neither, but a common middle ground that calls for heavier restrictions on gun ownership. After all, in what world do teenagers need assault riffles?

That being said, it’s easy to blame a laughable lack of gun control; however, it’s so much more than that. Over the past decade mental health has taken a steep downturn. With the rise of social media, the COVID-19 Pandemic, and so many other factors, America’s youth are struggling more than ever before. As we sit silently, more and more students fall victim to their own minds. Why is mental health so stigmatized? Why have we as a school, as a community, and as a country done so little to address it?

We can put up doorbells during school hours to preserve the illusion of safety from outside threats, but what about the ones inside? The deadliest killer is the one we refuse to address, the one that’s taking dozens of lives every month, the one that lives inside our minds. If we don’t try to do better, nothing will stop. A combination of gun control and mental health outreach in schools and communities can save hundreds of lives. And isn’t it worth it if we save just one?