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Students tell board ‘duck syndrome’ survey shows widespread hidden distress
Summary
South Pasadena High students presented survey results to the school board saying 83.3% of respondents reported experiencing “duck syndrome,” urging more support for mental-health access and destigmatization.
At the April 14 South Pasadena Unified School District board meeting, students from South Pasadena High School’s newspaper presented survey findings they said show widespread hidden mental-health struggles among students.
Lucinda Ernst, a junior and class president, told the board the paper’s center spread focused on what students call “duck syndrome” — the experience of appearing calm on the surface while struggling privately. “Duck syndrome is the idea experienced by people who feel that they must work their hardest while masking their struggles,” Ernst said. Student speakers described anonymous responses they gathered, saying 83.3% of surveyed students reported experiencing those pressures.
The students read anonymous comments that described shame around asking for help, pressure to appear ‘‘effortless’’ and fear of being judged for lower grades. The presenters cited research from the National Library of Medicine and the American Psychological Association to frame the concern and said ongoing concealment of distress can exacerbate anxiety and depression in teens.
Board President (the presiding board member) thanked the students for bringing the findings to the board and encouraged continued partnership: “I want to thank you for your leadership,” the president said, urging students to keep sharing insights with district staff.
Why it matters: The students’ survey suggests most respondents feel unable to reveal academic or emotional struggles, a dynamic educators say can delay help-seeking. The presentation came during public comment and was followed by a short exchange of thanks; no immediate policy action was announced.
What the board said next: District staff and trustees repeatedly praised the student-led effort and pointed to existing counseling services; they did not adopt a new program or produce a timeline for additional resources during the meeting. The student presenters asked the district to continue expanding access and destigmatizing help-seeking.
The meeting record shows the board moved on to other agenda items after public comment; the district’s LCAP survey and student-support programs were mentioned elsewhere on the agenda as continuing work.
