MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health is often ignored and seen as not as important to take care of as one's physical health. Not taking care of your mental health will affect your brain the same way not taking care of your physical health will negatively impact your body
WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?
"Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood."
WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS?
"Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities."
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There are many different variations of mental illnesses, but they are treatable. Those with mental illnesses who are treated can "continue to function in their daily lives."
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https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness
Break the STIGMA
"social stigma is characterized by prejudicial attitudes and discriminating behaviour directed towards individuals with mental health problems as a result of the psychiatric label they have been given. In contrast, perceived stigma or self-stigma is the internalizing by the mental health sufferer of their perceptions of discrimination...and perceived stigma can significantly affect feelings of shame and lead to poorer treatment outcomes"
All forms of stigma shame mental illness. Mental illness is not something to be ashamed of just like how it is not shameful to develop pneumonia. In order to break the stigma around mental illness, we must start a conversation. Check in on your friends. Do not be afraid to talk to an adult (if you are an adolescent) or professional for help. It should most definitely not be shameful to ask for help. If you are unable to receive treatment due to risk of safety (family disapproval), talk to a teacher or guidance counselor. Most schools now have mental health counselors who are all ears.
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Stop saying "I am so OCD" or "I'll kill myself if that happens" because it further stigmatizes real illnesses people have to deal with and do not have the luxury of trivializing.
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Having a mental illness does not make you "crazy". Mental illnesses are often not recognized as "real" health issues because we cannot see them, however, your brain will change if it is suffering from a mental illness the same way your hand will bleed if it is cut.
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Do not listen to those who say to "toughen up". Get the help you need.
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Stigma around mental illness scares people into not getting the treatment they need. How silly would it be if you let your hand bleed out because you are afraid you will be judged for getting help.
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We cannot stress enough how important it is to get help if needed. Again, if you are in a situation where you cannot get help, talk to a trusted adult.
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By receiving much needed treatment, and changing the culture around mental illness we can collectively BREAK THE STIGMA.
Signs of
Mental Illness
Listed below are common signs of mental illness. Take action and recognize these symptoms in yourself or others to seek or recommend treatment.
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changes/drop in school performance
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excessive worry, anxiety, or fear
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feeling excessively sad
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problems concentrating
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extreme mood changes
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prolonged/strong feelings of irritability or anger
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avoiding friends and social activities
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difficulties understanding or relating to other people
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changes in sleeping habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite
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changes in sex drive
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hallucinations
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excessive drinking or use of substance
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unfounded physical ailments
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thinking about suicide
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inability to carry out daily activities
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an intense concern with appearance
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substance abuse
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excessive fear and worry
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delusions
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aggression
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hyperactivity
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disorganized speech
Different mental illnesses display different symptoms. there are also symptoms unique to different cases. See a doctor for a diagnosis.
Depression
Depression is a medical illness that "causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.
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"Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States ."
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Adults aged 18-25 are most likely to have a major depressive episode as well as adults who are mixed-race.
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If you believe you are a loved one may have depression see a doctor for a diagnosis.
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https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression.shtml
Suicide
Suicide is the taking of one's life, often brought on by a mental illness.
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Suicide is one of the most tragic causes of death because it is preventable.
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Men are more likely to die by suicide than women, due to the social stigma around men who are pressured to be "tough guys" and show no emotion.
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It is okay to be vulnerable and show emotion regardless of what gender, race, identity, etc you are.
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Recognize warning signs of suicide such as: drastic change in mood or attitude, drastic change to outer appearance, no motivation, isolation, increased substance use, fatigue, aggression, giving away important possessions, etc.
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If you or a love done need immediate help the National Suicide Hotline is
1-800-273-8255
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https://afsp.org/about-suicide/risk-factors-and-warning-signs/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-faq/index.shtml
Eating Disorders
An eating disorder an illness "in which the people experience severe disturbances in their eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions."
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Women between the ages of 12-35 are most susceptible to eating disorders due to the intense pressure put on women to maintain "the perfect body".
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Eating disorders include anorexia, binge eating, and bulimia. Warning signs of these illnesses may be underrating, overeating, obsession with weight, etc.
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Your beauty is not measured by a number on a scale.
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For immediate help call Hopeline Network 1-800-442-4673
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https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders
Substance Abuse
Substance abuse is "the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs". Although substance abuse is a mental illness it can cause other issues in your body.
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It is okay to have a drink once in a while, but the excessive constant use of alcohol or other drugs just to get through the day is not healthy.
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Many use substance as an attempt to alleviate other mental illness or pains, but substance abuse will only make issues already present worse.
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Be sure that you have alcohol in moderation, and stay away from highly addictive drugs.
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Recognize the signs of substance abuse in yourself and your friends: bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, abrupt weight change, bruises, cuts, aggression, depression, lethargy, change in priorities, financial struggles, etc.
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https://drugabuse.com/library/symptoms-and-signs-of-drug-abuse/
Teen Mental Health
Teen mental health is distinct from adult mental health in that different environmental factors affect our mental state. 1 Step knows about teen mental health firsthand because we experience the stigma and issues teens have with mental health. Predominantly depression and suicide are mental illnesses that are on the rise among American teens. Why?
Gen Z Pressure
Yahoo reports:
"Kids these days are more obsessed with perfection than many previous generations were, and this obsession is associated with increased depression and anxiety, according to a new study published in Psychological Bulletin.
The authors of the study reviewed prior research on perfectionism, which they broadly define 'as a combination of excessively high personal standards and overly critical self-evaluations.'"
Gen Z kids are obsessed with perfection due to self pressures and societal pressures.
The study Yahoo reported (published in Psychological Bulletin) found that this obsession with perfectionism is brought on by neoliberalism, anxious and controlling parents, and the rise of the meritocracy.
Neoliberalism's doctrine of meritocracy, "a system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement; leadership selected on the basis of intellectual criteria", creates this new culture of unrealistic achievement standards. This pushes parents to pressure their kids more because "On top of their own duty to succeed, they are also responsible for the successes and failures of their children." While pushing your kids to do well is good parenting, too much pressure toward unrealistic achievement standards can result in a child developing a mental illness.
"Research among college students and young people, for example, has found self-oriented perfectionism to be positively associated with clinical depression, anorexia nervosa and early death," the study authors point out. "It is also associated with greater physiological reactivity (e.g., elevated blood pressure) and ill-being (e.g., negative affect) in response to life stress and failure."
What has changed in the 2000s and 2010s to pave the way for such a culture of perfectionism to arise?
Look Below
Merriam Webster
The Social Media Age
Gen Z "teenagers’ isolation has a dire cost—rates of depression and suicide so high...members of Generation Z are 'on the brink of the worst mental-health crisis in decades.'" Gen Z teens are growing up in the public eye, making them extremely self-conscious, but beyond that "Surveys have found that spending more time on social media and other 'screen' activities correlates strongly with lower levels of happiness, and higher feelings of loneliness, levels of depression, and risk of suicide"
Social media accounts are meant to depict the best parts of our lives, so when teens are only seeing rich 20 somethings, extremely touched up bodies, and groups of friends together "all the time" an unreachable image to achieve is set. When teens cannot reach these standards they can develop mental illnesses like depression or anorexia.
There is also a prevalent culture of cyberbullying on social media, where it is popular to mock and "troll". Cyberbullying can lead to extreme depression and suicide.
Having a stronger self-esteem will make you less susceptible to developing a mental illness due to the pressures of social media.
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Social media can be fun, but be careful of the media you consume. It's not all real.
Party Culture
Even though partying is often associated with high school teens and college students, surveys show that Gen Z teens are not partying as much as their parents did. Get Z is the "cautious, career-focused generation." Because of this alcohol consumption has decreased along with partying. Partying is seen as a way to hang out that only includes the "popular" crowd, so it has declined in popularity. Partying is a means of entertainment, so today, parties are not lively like the 80s club scene but dominated by social media and alcohol.
As explained above, social media is the entire public in a few apps. Therefore, you can "party" whenever you want online. So why do teens still get together to participate in this new wave of party culture that only involves drinking or doing drugs when there is a "party" constantly online? Again, social media takes a toll on teens. They are expected to keep up appearances. At parties, you can keep up appearances on social media by displaying your perfect life and hanging out with friends and getting hammered. But because of the awful physical effects of getting extremely drunk, there must be more to it than just keeping up appearances. Below are a few reasons why this super stressed generation is taking the fun out of parties and replacing it with a temporary fix.
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Peer Pressure: the pressure to fit in and do what others are to be accepted
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Self-medication and Escape: when kids no longer want to deal with their own lives and issues (or social media) they turn to substance
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Instant Gratification: drugs and alcohol give a quick high and "fix" things right away. "Fixing" things could mean being accepted for doing substance.
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Lack of Confidence: alcohol and substance give a false and temporary sense of confidence teens want
https://drugfree.org/parent-blog/top-8-reasons-teens-try-alcohol-drugs/
https://www.wired.com/story/why-teens-arent-partying-anymore
School Pressures
Education systems have existed for thousands of years, but they have not always been perfect. One of the many issues our current education needs to addresses that of mental health.
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The price of college has skyrocketed, putting the pressure on kids to garner scholarships through athletics or academics. Academic competitiveness has also skyrocketed. Gen Z is a generation of thinkers who want to make an impact, so it makes sense that from 1990 to 2009 the amount of rigorous courses increased by 8%. The pressure to pay for college, get into a good college, and get a job in this job market takes a toll on developing adolescents.
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Excessive stress can lead to depression and anxiety disorders, or unhealthy ways of coping like substance abuse.
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http://www.businessinsider.com/high-school-harder-earlier-generation-2011-12
https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/mental-and-emotional-impact-of-stress/
http://www.growthbusiness.co.uk/motivates-generation-z-2553367/
TREATMENT
There are various treatment options for mental illness. Each individual must decide which is the most effective for their unique case. Here are just a few treatment options:
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Psychiatric Help: one of the most common forms of treatment. find a therapist fit to help you through the American Psychiatric Institute.
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Equine Therapy: involves interacting with and completing activities with a horse. Has been proven to improve impulse control, empathy, self-regard, independence, stress tolerance, etc.
https://www.crchealth.com/types-of-therapy/what-is-equine-therapy/
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Service Dog: "assist their handler with a psychiatric disability such as anxiety, depression or PTSD via specific, trained tasks."
https://www.anythingpawsable.com/types-of-service-dogs/
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Group Therapy: Mental health America provides resources for specialized support groups to ensure the best support and treatment.
https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/find-support-groups
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Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): is an anonymous support group with meetings across the United States aimed toward battling alcohol abuse through peer support
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Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA): is an anonymous support group with meetings across the United States aimed tppward battling eating disorders through peer support
http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org/meetings.html
National Hotlines:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
National Substance Abuse Hotline: 1-800-662-4357
National Eating Disorder Hotline: 1-800-931-2237
**Disclaimer: We are only providing resources not recommending specific help. Only you or a doctor can decide what treatment is best for you.
DONATE & ADVOCATE
National Alliance on Mental Illness
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Alliance for Eating Disorders
https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/portal/organizations-and-websites
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
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Foundation for Alcoholism Research
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If you cannot donate, volunteer your time, or at least start a conversation about mental health to break the stigma around mental illness.