written by : patricia tsai
edited by : aahana
Basic outline
Mental health refers our psychological, emotional and social well-being. A common issue many people face in today's world is poor mental health, accompanied by mental health challenges. An estimated one in five people live with some type of mental illness.
Why is mental health awareness important for the youth?
We see many teens struggling with mental health issues, often people see teens struggling as ‘teen angst’ or ‘just being a teenager’ when actually it is a growing mental illness. It is important to be informed, in order to help those currently struggling. Schools should start teaching the concept of self care, give students access to mental health resources, and teach students that mental health is a vital part of your overall health.
Awareness must be brought to the negative side effects of mental health issues; the negative stigma against mental health and mental illness should be brought down. Not too many teenagers who struggle with maintaining positive mental health seek help or are given access to mental health help. Mental health can impact academic success, social relationships, physical health and overall well being of the individual.
Think about it this way, mental health awareness can save lives. Young children, especially, should learn about mental health. This is when they develop relationships, learn about themselves, shape themselves, create their self-esteem and self-worth. We must acknowledge the fact that young people and adolescents can experience mental illness and problems. Mental health can affect everything, our mood, personality, productivity and much more.
We need to end the stigma against mental health. When mental health is neglected suicide rates increase; suicide is the second leading cause of death amoung individuals aged 10-19. Adolescents ages 15-24 are more likely to experience mental illness, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) bipolar, self harm and suicide. Always remember, your mental health comes first!
Self-care tips
Maintain healthy relationships with friends and families.
Take breaks when you need them, take a mental health break when you feel overwhelmed.
Journal or write
Go outside, fresh air is always good.
Prioritize your eating and sleeping habits, make sure you eat a healthy diet and have a healthy sleeping schedule. Eating makes your brain happy
Set goals for yourself, give yourself something to achieve
Do what you love, find something you love.
Take a break from social media, social media can have sometimes have negative impacts on your mental health
Spend time with your pets, petting an animal can release serotonin (it’s a chemical in your body responsible for your happiness)
Make your bed.
Clean your room.
Allow yourself to feel emotions, let yourself cry, let yourself laugh.
Practice gratitude, make a list of things you are grateful for.
Practice self compassion, be nice to yourself, don’t be so hard on yourself.
Ways we can spread awareness:
Educate yourself and others: learn about signs
Encourage those who struggle to seek help
Do not judge, be supportive of others
Work on your own mental health
Join a blog or create a mental health blog
Keep an open conversation on mental health
Use kind words, think before you speak
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