[Sinbi Kim]

Hello👋 Today, let’s discuss adolescent mental health. With academic standards increasing every year, social burdens, and fear of failure striking adolescents, an immense level of stress may result in mental health problems.

 

One of the most rapid phases of human development, adolescence is an essential period that will arbitrate how a person will view and interact with the world over the life course (Ginny, 2017).

 

There have been efforts to better understand mental health issues; however, people with mental illnesses are still confronted with stereotypes and stigmas that are a product of misapprehension about them.

 

Which necessitates the help and support in schools and society to advocate good mental health for those going through an intense transition. 

 

First of all, it is crucial to address the needs of adolescents with defined mental health conditions. One of the most important things you can do for your teen is to work on strengthening your relationship.

This is why it’s important to get educated.

Nowadays, we tend to view teenagers as expressing themselves as “cringy” and “dramatic”. Note that their expression could be a sign of mental illnesses.

Instead of giving them judgmental looks, try to ask yourself how many positive things have you said to them. Let the positive outweigh the negative. Let them know that you are proud of them.

Your attention matters.

 

Remember, “Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.”

 

[Gabriel Mayeden]

Thank you Kim for sharing your thoughts in this important subject.

             The ongoing pandemic is wearing everyone down, especially children and adolescents who are in the most crucial stages of life. Loss of connection with friends and family coupled with stress navigating through online school systems have contributed to a rise in mental health conditions in this demographic. Adolescents rely on their peers and family to develop a coping mechanism for emotional challenges. However, most adolescents have lost or reduced connections with these individuals because of the pandemic, leaving them alone to deal with mental health issues.

            I am glad you emphasized the need for parents to establish a positive relationship with their teens. Consequently, adolescent kids would be able to confide in their parents about any emotional burden, rather than bottling them inside and dealing with it all alone. Some signs parents should look out for include;

·        Unusual changes in mood

·        Problems with memory and concentration

·        Changes in eating pattern

·        Loss of interest in schoolwork

·        Increase in risky behaviors such as alcohol consumption and drug use (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2021).

 

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