Mental Health Conscious

Oftentimes, the mental health of teens—or young adults—stems from the environment that he/she interacts with, or the environment that he/she is forced to adapt to. For, it is through such that an adolescent may experience change that affects him/her by impacting his/her mental health in a negative way—that differs from that of his/her peers. But even so, this isn’t always easy to spot at first glance, but lies deep beneath the surface, in the form of various factors, such as; “long term physical illnesses, the loss of a family member (whether it be through separation, divorce, or death), and being physically/sexually abused, among various other factors”.  

First and foremost is long-term physical illness, which can affect the individual by not only causing stress on himself/herself, but his/her family as well. In the midst of such hardship, the person of young-nature may find himself/herself wanting to get better. However, with the inability to do so, his/her mental health can be affected to a great degree—as he/she may begin to reside in a hopeless state of mind.

Second is the loss of a family member through separation, divorce, or death. It is through this that the individual has to not only cope with change, but cope with grief, as he/she must learn how to live in response to such. Healing is possible—with time—but until he/she is able to come to terms with what has happened, the circumstance poses as painful, and can impact the individual negatively.

Third is bullying and physical/sexual abuse, which can stem from anything, no matter whether it be one’s personal life, or his/her school experience. When young minds endure such, it can cause them to have a difficult time focusing on the task(s) at hand—due to the emotions that they might be experiencing. This can cause a plethora of problems for their self worth, as the trauma which they have faced begins to take its toll on their self esteem and confidence.

In conclusion, mental health can affect the youth through a number of ways, and is not something that should be easily overlooked, but must be regarded by not only the teen himself/herself, but by loved ones and strangers alike. It is through such that a wide array of people can better equip themselves—and/or prepare themselves—on what to do, by being both informed and aware.