Mental Health Impact on Youth

Mental Health

Mental HealthMental health for youth is becoming the main issue world wide, including suicide, self- harm, emotional distress, and lack of outdoor activities. Treating mental health is more than medicating a cold or healing a broken bone.  It takes time, heart, patience and self-awareness. It could be minutes, months, or years before one is able to find the right treatment, but healing is still possible. If one notice that they can’t help themselves, reach out to a trusted adult to get the help that’s needed. There is no age difference in experiencing mental health. All ages can experience it with different symptoms.

These are the signs and symptoms to be aware of:

  • Lack of Emotion
  • Physical Pain
  • Avoidance
  • Self-Harm
  • Extreme Mood Change
  • Excessive Worrying or Fear
  • Feeling suspicious
  • Withdrawing from social situations or relationships, isolating oneself

If one notices that a youth, or close friend is showing these signs and symptoms then he/she should take action into seeking what causes the child to feel the way they feel, finding coping skills, or comfort to help them with their mental health , emotionally, physically, and mentally. Most people don’t know to speak up when it comes to explaining their feelings or thoughts, they tend to hold to it, stay indoors, or be socially awkward. Research shows that teens are most likely to open up to their friends than an adult about the trouble they’re facing. That’s why it’s important to talk to teens about the challenges they may deal with as they grow up and navigate young adulthood. They need to know it’s okay to sometimes feel sad, angry, alone, and frustrated. But persistent problems may be pointing to something else, and it is crucial to be able to recognize early warning signs so teens can get appropriate help in a timely manner.

When it comes to a child’s mental health, it’s important to have check-ins, regularly, to help one recognize when they need extra support. It’s hard to notice because we cannot see their internal states, if one notices body language, food consuming, no emotion, don’t be afraid to ask for help by asking a doctor, nurse, or professional. In addition, adults should let their teens know that they are there for them when they need someone to talk to.

Resources to best help support a parent and their child when dealing with mental health:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy—Helps young people recognize and change thinking patterns and behaviors that are not good for their mental health
  • Family therapy—Can help you look at what you can do as a family to help your child through their mental illness, and manage behaviors.
  • Interpersonal therapy—Helps young people to feel more comfortable interacting with others.
  • Educational interventions—Can help your child by teaching them ways to manage the time in the classroom.

By Tamyra Anderson

Sources:

Heath & Human Services: Youth Mental Health

Heretohelp.bc.ca: Mental Illnesses in Children and Youth

Mental Health First Aid: The Impact of Mental Health Challenges on Teens

Top and Featured Image Courtesy of USAID U.S. Agency for Inte‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

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