It’s important to be fully aware of your mental state. Mental illnesses are a serious thing that a lot of teenagers have nowadays. When I surveyed teens to see if they understood what mental illness was, I had the same response several times. All they knew was that it was awful and had something to do with our emotions and ideas. This may be why we have had more mental health cases since 2019. We need to inform our teens about what mental illnesses are, where they come from, and how to prevent them.

What are Mental Illnesses?

Mental illnesses are a wide range of mental health conditions that affect a person’s thinking, mood, behavior, and overall functioning. These conditions can disrupt a person’s ability to cope with the daily stresses of life, maintain relationships, and perform basic tasks. Mental illnesses can vary in severity, from mild conditions to more severe disorders, and may last for different periods.

 The website American Psychiatric Association, they wrote an essay, “What is Mental Illness”, where they explore all the different types of illnesses and different facts about mental health. Specifically, they argued that it doesn’t matter who you are, you can still have a mental illness if you don’t take care of yourself. They said, ” Mental illness does not discriminate; it can affect anyone regardless of your age, gender, geography, income, social status, race, ethnicity, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation, background, or other aspect of cultural identity.” 

There are different types of mental illnesses, but these are the most common in adolescents:

Depression: It’s different for everyone, but it’s when it negatively affects how you feel, think, act, and how you look at the world. Some symptoms can include feeling sad, empty, or hopeless. Losing interest in things that used to be enjoyed, change in appetite, and/or noticeable changes in their weight. And so much more.

Anxiety: Anxiety disorders are different from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness, and involve excessive fear or anxiety. Teenagers usually have the most anxiety when they are dealing with stress. Anxiety disorders are treatable. There are different types of anxiety like generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and separation anxiety.

PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder): This usually occurs when people have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event or a set of circumstances. Someone can experience this emotionally, physically harmful, or life-threatening. Some examples include natural disasters, serious accidents, terrorist acts, war, sexual assault, historical trauma, violence, and bullying.

Eating disorders: They affect up to 5% of the population, but are most common in the development of adolescence and young adulthood. Eating disorders don’t necessarily always have to deal with food they can also be about weight, shape, or the consequences of eating certain foods. There are also physical behaviors that can happen like purge vomiting, laxative misuse, or compulsive exercising.

Origins of Mental Health Issues in Adolescents:

Mental illnesses are influenced by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. According to Polaris Teen Center, ” This is hugely evident in the statistics regarding adolescent and teen mental health, with as many as one out of every five adolescents and teenagers meeting the criteria for a diagnosable mental illness.  Additionally, 50% of all lifetime cases of mental illness will develop by age 14, and 75% by age 24.” If we know what causes health issues, maybe we can find a way to lower the rates of how many teens get a type of mental illness.

Biological:

Research has shown that genetics has played a big role in the development of mental disorders. Children and teenagers are more likely to acquire their mental health disorders if they have a first-degree family who suffers from a mental disease (such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD). Developmental issues, either before or after birth, suggest that chromosomal losses and changes may contribute to the appearance of a mental illness. Brain injuries, infections/diseases, and substance abuse can also play a big part in your mental health.

Environmental:

Some factors that cause mental issues can happen because of stressors you deal with daily. Like trauma, bullying, demands at school, an unstable home environment, acts of violence, death or divorce, social expectations, and feelings of inadequacy ( the feeling that you’re not enough).

 Psychological:

Psychological trauma like emotional, physical, or sexual abuse plays a big part in mental illnesses, even the early loss of a family member, especially if it’s a parent. Also neglect and the ability to relate to others can mess up how you think, especially as a teen who is trying to figure out who they are.

Strategies for Mental Illness Prevention:

Not a lot of teenagers know how to prevent mental illnesses. When I conducted my survey asking if teens knew what mental illness was, I also asked if they knew how to prevent it. 20% didn’t know what to do, 40% said to go to therapy or to talk to someone, and the other 40% said to take care of yourself ( eating healthy and exercising). These are all really good answers, but the best ways to prevent mental illnesses are:

• Talking about your feeling, when you express your emotions you can relieve stress and tension that has bottled up.
• Getting a good night’s sleep, can help the brain process emotions and manage stress. Poor sleep can increase anxiety and emotional reactivity.
• Eating well, the brain needs certain nutrients to function properly. If you eat a well nutrient-dense diet it can provide consistent energy and mental clarity.
• Staying active can release endorphins, which help reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress. Also, exercise promotes the growth of new brain cells and improves brain function.
• Practicing mindfulness teaches an individual to observe their thoughts and emotions without reacting impulsively, which reduces stress and anxiety.
• Keeping a journal helps release pent-up feelings, reducing stress, anxiety, and frustration. It also encourages self-reflection to allow you to gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
• Going outside, nature has a calming effect on the mind and light increases the brain’s production of serotonin ( regulates mood). It also gives you a chance to have some social interaction to reduce loneliness and provide emotional support.

Summary:

In conclusion, mental illness is a serious thing that a lot of teenagers are going through. If we get more people to explore its origins, which can stem from genetics, environment, and psychological factors we can lower the rate of cases we have. Also, mental health prevention strategies are essential in reducing the risk and impact of mental health disorders. Ultimately, mental health care must be prioritized as a crucial aspect of overall health, requiring efforts from individuals, communities, and health care systems.