As many know, May is the month for Mental Health Awareness. Mental health is something we really need to talk about, especially as 1 in 5 U.S. adults will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. Earlier this month, the color green swept the nation, lighting up a number of landmarks to raise awareness for mental health. And it’s particularly important to understand the leading factors of mental illness, the signs, and ways to help.
Having a mental illness is not a choice or moral failing. Lot of teens and adolescents struggle with mental health. It’s important to remember that significant brain growth and development occurs during adolescence and continues even into the twenties. In fact, the teen brain is doing lots of things at once. There’s three processes taking place. Proliferation, where brain matter is growing rapidly and forming new connections; Pruning, where the brain is cutting away the connections that are unused or unimportant; and Myelination, the insulating of brain pathways to make them faster and more stable. And at the same time, some parts of the brain are maturing faster than others. The parts associated with reward, motivation, and impulsivity matures early. Meanwhile, teenager’s prefrontal cortex (which thinks about things logically, weights pros and cons, and restrains you), matures later. This means that teenagers can be more prone to risky and impulsive behavior and less likely to consider consequences. That’s not to say that teens have no control, they’re aware of when they’re engaging in risky behavior, but they’re more likely to think of the immediate benefits than the consequences down the line.
Advice for Parents: Please, be patient. Remember your child’s brain is still forming and in many cases where you see logic they see obnoxious parenting.
Open communication to your child. To make it easiest for your child to come to you with struggles he or she may be going through, create a safe environment for their emotions. One small thing you say in passing may be the whole world to them, so try to be as open minded and understanding as possible. It may strengthen your relationship and make a bond that will last far past the angsty teenage years.
There is a difference between normal teen behavior and warning signs for a mental illness. Teenagers need to naturally separate in order to gain their independence in early adulthood and often react defensively in order to attain this goal. This is normal. But, If you see that your teen is not engaging in other activities or with friends and is chronically disconnected, angry and sad, this is when the behavior becomes abnormal and requires intervention. Teenagers are known to be dramatic. And many teens face struggles day to day, from something as small as the wrong outfit, to a bad grade on a test, to a fight with a friend and so-forth. Teenagers are often oversensitive and self-conscious and have not developed adequate coping tools to appropriately deal with events such as these. Therefore you may notice that your teenager experiences episodes of sadness, anxiety, frustration and feelings of being overwhelmed. However, these episodes should not last more than a few days at most; if these feelings are continual and your teen is chronically anxious or sad, then you should speak to him or her about your concerns and consult your family doctor to see if there may be a more serious problem than normal teenage angst.
If you know someone who’s having mental health issues:
Don’t tell them to get over it. These conditions are extremely difficult to have control over, especially for teenagers. If they had the ability to control these things and get over them, they would.
Encourage them to get help, or have a discussion with them yourself. Talking about the issue at hand can really help a struggling individual.
Raise awareness. Raising awareness is extremely important for mental health issues. Understanding more about what a person may be dealing with helps to build a greater sense of compassion for them. And raising awareness lets others know they’re not alone, it gives them support, and it can help them come forward and share their own stories. Knowledge is power, and once we drag these issues out of the shadows and into the light; once they’re understood and no longer enigmatic, they aren’t as scary.
Remember to be patient. No one knows what’s going on in someone’s private life, their mind, or their thoughts. What you say matters.
Be kind. This can be a huge help to individuals who may be struggling with mental illnesses. Some of these illnesses can rear their ugly head at any moment, and that can be extremely detrimental to social situations. So kindness to those around school or campus can mean a lot where you’d never know.
If you are struggling with a Mental Illness:
There are tons of stories of hope and recovery out there just waiting. It can help a lot to see people who may be in the same shoes as you.
Tell a family member, friend, or doctor. It will relieve any feelings of isolation and it will let a support group grow around you. Don’t let others believe that everything is fine if it isn’t. Ultimately it’s you that has to be strong and step up, asking for help. Discussing what you are going through with others is an important first step to getting help. Speaking up and asking for help is a sign of strength. You will be amazed by the support you get simply by asking.
Let others help you. You aren’t alone. There are others going through same or similar conditions. You aren’t a burden. Stop any feeling of guilt about your need for help. You’re entitled to happiness just as much as anyone else.
