MENTAL HEALTH AMONG TEENS 1 in 5 teens in the US have a mental health condition. Depression is the 4th leading cause of disability and illness among adolescents aged 15-19 years, globally. 50% of mental health issues are established by the age of 14, and 75% by age 24. IMPACT ON TEENS BASIC INFO Mental health is often defined as one’s condition of their emotional, social, and physiological well being. Life experiences, biological factors, or a family history of mental problems, can affect one's mental health, oftentimes, negatively. Without a support system, many teens go through a mental condition leaving it untreated or undetected. Commonly, these issues affect the daily lives of a teen as they may not understand these new emotions. An affect on an adolescent's schoolwork, attendance, as well as social withdrawal is recurrent among teens. EMOTIONAL DISORDERS Anxiety and depressive disorders are highly occurring types of mental illnesses, especially among adolescents. Those with an anxiety condition have intense fear in relation to different types of situations and will attempt to avoid them. In depressive conditions, people experience significant changes in mood that can be acknowledged as depression. SIGNS OF A PROBLEM & HOW TO HELP Eating or sleeping too much or too little Having low to no energy Pulling away from once enjoyable activities or people Feeling numb and/or helpless Unusual forgetfulness, frustration, anger, worries Severe mood swings Thoughts of harming others or yourself Receiving professional treatment can be a privilege to many, however, it is still possible to accept guidance from someone you trust. Developing healthy coping mechanisms and skills may be difficult at first, but sooner or later it is possible for these disorders to lessen their hold.
