Health:
Mental Health Stigmas - Health
Stigmas surrounding mental illness have become an issue for teenagers today. This prevents teens that need treatment from receiving the proper help. This effects teens from all around the world but is the most prevalent in America where mental health resources are accessible. Information about mental illness needs to be available to teens from resources outside of their friends and music.
Causes
Mental Health and the mentally ill are not shown fairly in today's media. The connections of mental illness to mass murderers and suicides has created a fear of the mentally ill. In reality, 26.2 percent of americans suffer from mental disorders (National Istitute of Mental Health), and the vast majority are not violent.
How this impacts teens
About 11 percent of people suffer from depression before the age of 18(NIMH). However nearly two thirds of adolescents that suffered major depressive episodes did not recieve treatment in 2010 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration). According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), with medication and psychotherapy most youth with depression can be effectivley treated. Youth are more likely to be succesful in treatment if the disorder is treated early. However due to the stigmas surrounding mentally ill, and fear of persicution if they seek treatment, many teens do not get the help they need.
Words Can Hurt, By: xxARTillerxx, At:deviantart.com
We as a society have a responsibilty to have a greater knowledge and understanding of mental disorders and the mentally ill. Creating an atmosphere where treatment is avaliable and supported, not critizied, is important to fighting mental illness.
More Research and Support
