According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 73.8% of children from the age of 3-17 years old struggle with mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. 

Mental health can affect teenagers by directly and indirectly influencing their mood, social life, and schooling. Teenagers may find themselves unmotivated when it comes to participating in their school work, sports, or hanging out with friends.

The CDC also claims that along with among the teens who struggle from depression and anxiety, about 47.2% of them have behavioral issues. 

Why is it that so many teenagers in today’s society struggle with mental health issues? Some may say that it is due to the extensive influence that social media has on their lives. Teens are constantly scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat etc. Some teens compare themselves to influential media personalities. These harsh comparisons could add to mental health crises such as depression or body image issues, which could eventually lead to the development of eating disorders. 

Also, teenagers are undergoing an extreme change in their lives. They are experiencing a daunting transition from childhood to young adulthood. According to statistics given by MentalHealth.gov , the age bracket of 14-17 is the most common age range for teenagers to experience depression or anxiety.  This explains why some teens transitioning from middle school to high school commonly find themselves at a mental road block. This is potentially caused by unexpected stress put into their lives. 

According to Penn Medicine, early signs of depression can be expressed as feeling hopeless, irritable, sleep deprived, etc. It is important for parents and guardians to understand the symptoms of early depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders for their teenagers, as these symptoms can quickly progress into harsher mental disorders, leading to problems further in life. These problems could include anything from trouble in school, to eventually having issues retaining a job and keeping up in the workplace.

It is common for teenagers to feel as though they cannot discuss their mental health with others, and in many cases, the feeling of loneliness is only going to increase the intensity of their emotions.  A MedicalNewsToday article emphasized that “parents or guardians should make an effort to discuss mental health with their teenagers early on,” so that once their children begin to feel symptoms, they can openly express to their peers what they are feeling.

This is one of the many reasons for why it is vital that the parent or guardian seeks out therapy or other helpful remedies for teenagers suffering from mental illness. At Cam High, the Wellness Center has multiple, helpful resources such as opportunities to speak with counselors about mental health etc. Teachers and counselors  are always there to help students through difficult times. 

If interested in visiting the Cam High wellness center, click on the following link: Wellness Center