Mental health involves how an individual’s psychological, emotional, and social well-being works. This state affects how people can cope with the daily challenges of one’s life and contribute to their communities. Thus, mental health is vital in every stage of every individual’s life.
As teenagers and young adults go through obstacles, they may further develop health risks. For example, the common mental health disorders’ symptoms include panic attacks, substance addiction, intense fear, obsession, and fear of social situations. If you experience these mental symptoms, you should seek guidance from the mental health services near you.
The World Health Organization which is an international public health agency, revealed in a survey that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among fifteen to nineteen-year-olds. To prevent possible mental health risks, the parents or guardians of the youth must invest in their loved one’s overall health. This article includes the importance of investing in the mental health of teenagers.
Develops Physical Stamina
When people speak about what it means to be healthy, they think about being physically fit. This physical attribute involves maintaining habits such as doing regular workout sessions, eating a nutritious diet, getting eight hours of sleep, and avoiding the use of substances. However, an individual’s health shouldn’t just depend on these factors.
Having mental issues may cause lack of motivation to teenagers, affecting their drive to take good care of their physical health. For example, if mental illness is untreated, you’re likely to develop a weakened immune system. This risk may cause your body to resist infections, turning into overall health complications.
The struggles in having severe mental illness include behavioral triggers. For example, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), a website providing biomedical information, reported that the rates of violent behavior among patients with dissociative identity disorder (DID) are high. At such a young age, teenagers may also develop this illness. Moreover, if these triggers remain untreated as they move towards adulthood, they may cause harm in communities and the patients themselves.
Another survey from NCBI reveals that there are about 2 million American adolescents aged 10-18 years old who have chronic health conditions. When a teenager has depression, this is usually linked with multiple chronic diseases, such as:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Arthritis
The effects of these conditions may limit the individual’s daily activities. Thus, you must seek professional mental health services to prevent this if you feel like your mental health condition isn’t tolerable anymore. Your physical stamina may also improve once you slowly heal from your mental health trauma and experiences.
Prevents Substance Addiction
The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), a website that shares the latest trends on substance abuse, reports that over 50% of teenagers have misused a drug at least once. This data usually stems from childhood neglect, according to Child Welfare. Therefore, this result suggests that when these teenagers aren’t supervised, this may lead to substance addiction.
If this illness remains misguided by a professional, this may cause these ten effects to the teenager:
- Producing low academic productivity.
- Engaging in illegal activities.
- Getting involved in detrimental fights.
- Changing attitude and personality.
- Leading to financial struggles.
- Deteriorating physical appearance.
- Producing bad odor.
- Suddenly gaining or losing weight.
- Developing slurred speech.
- Shifting hangout places and hobbies.
Being a teenager with an addiction problem is painful, yet it’s not a hopeless case. While these adverse effects cause fear, professionals can treat mental health-related substance addiction. With further guidance, teenagers can live sober and maintain healthy relationships with their families and the community.
Maintains Healthy Relationships with Family and Friends
When a teenager with mental illness develops uncontrollable behaviors, these effects will affect the patient’s relationships and well-being. Great counselors will help you feel less alone with your feelings and thoughts. For example, the teenager’s emotions and thoughts used to be repressed, can be shared with an understanding individual without taking sides. Therefore, it’s easier to disengage from unhealthy situations to ease your rising emotions temporarily.
If you feel like your substance addiction and behavioral issues arise more frequently than ever, it’s best to seek professional help from mental health service providers. Once connected to these healthcare support providers, your relationships with the community will likely improve.
Reaches The Fullest Potential
Another NCBI research proves that teenagers seek professional help because they don’t want to be labeled as crazy. The most help-seeking behavior barrier stems from denial because they don’t acknowledge their mental issues.
With this stigma, mental illnesses that arise during teenage years might worsen when they enter higher-level phases as they age. However, affected teenagers may not overcome their triggers which may hinder them from achieving their fullest potentials. The skills needed to identify one’s potentials include self-awareness, leadership, effective communication, mindfulness, productivity, socializing, knowing oneself, perseverance, and excellence in critical tasks.
If you want to achieve success in your career during adulthood, you should reach out to a professional mental care provider to help you overcome your triggers and obstacles.
Key Takeaway
Dealing with mental health disorders is challenging because it can hurt your relationships, physical health, and substance abuse. Yet, with professional guidance, most teenage mental diseases can be treated. Once you overcome your mental struggles, it’s possible to develop physical stamina, prevent substance addiction, maintain healthy relationships, and reach one’s fullest potential. Not only will you improve your lifestyle, but you’ll also live a fulfilling life with your community.