According to the World Health Organization, “Mental health conditions account for 16% of the global burden of disease and injury in people aged 10-19 years.” Many researchers have been studying the increase in mental health illnesses. The Covid-19 pandemic, social media, and family issues are current concerns regarding the wide range of illnesses.
Many teens are triggered by things related to social media, home and school life. Social media has created unhealthy relationships with body image, which lead to many teens wanting to change themselves in unhealthy ways. Furthermore, teens with poor relationships with their parents can build tension at home, which has led to many issues. Bullying, stress, lack of motivation, too much work, and distorted beauty standards are some of the most common triggers for teens.
The CDC states that there are over 200 different types of mental health illnesses. The most common mental health illnesses are eating disorders, mood disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety. The National Alliance on Mental Health states, “1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience mental health disorders each year.” This raises the question of how we are going to decrease this statistic.
These following actions can be done independently to care for yourself while experiencing a mental health illness:
Stay off social media
Take a day off
Do something for yourself (workout, read a book, etc.)
Take steps slowly
Talk about your feelings
Set realistic goals for yourself
Surround yourself with positive people
Sleep
Stop to enjoy the small aspects of your day
It is important to realize that these feelings are normal and that you are not alone. Mental health is real and you are valid for showing emotions. According to the CDC, “People can experience different types of mental illnesses or disorders, and they can often occur at the same time. Mental illnesses can occur over a short period of time or be episodic. This means that the mental illness comes and goes with discrete beginnings and ends. Mental illness can also be ongoing or long-lasting.” It is crucial to reach out for help. The arise in mental health issues are concerns that need to be investigated and shown to a larger audience. Don’t ever be afraid to reach out for help and guidance if you are suffering.
Below are links for those who need help: