Mental health is one of the most important health factors when it comes to your overall health. Some even say that disorders are similar to having a brain injury that affects the way that you think and live your day to day life. About 18% of adults suffer from a mental illness and around 10% suffer from an emotional illness such as depression. However, the mental health of teenagers has significantly declined in the past few years and is affecting about one in five teenagers.
With the advancement of technology and social media, mental health issues have increased in teenagers. Most people are braver behind their phone screen than they are in real life, which causes for there to be a spike in online bullying. Although most social media platforms have restrictions on such content, it has not been perfected and people find ways to work around them. Another reason mental health issues have spiked is due to the amount of stress and pressure students are put under. Students tend to get stressed and anxious when it comes to turning in all of their work on time, keeping up with their grades, and managing their time. If someone does not know how to manage their stress and time, it could become a habit and eventually affect them in the long run. These are just two of the many reasons that mental health has declined.
What if you are struggling with your mental health? If you find that you are struggling mentally, you should try to find someone that you are comfortable talking to and know will be a safe space. Whether this is a parent, sibling, friend, or therapist, it should be someone you can trust and know will be there for you when you need them.
How do you help a friend who suffers from this? If a friend speaks of suffering from a mental issue, it is important that you are there for them and continue to be a good friend. Make sure that you check up on them regularly and make sure they know that you are willing to help them get through what they are struggling with.
Finally, you never know what someone is going through so next time you consider being mean to someone, think twice.
