Understanding Mental Health

What is Mental Health?

Mental health includes:

  • Emotional

  • Psychological

  • Social well-being

 It affects and helps determine:

  • How we think, feel and behave

  • How we handle stress

  • Relate to others

  • Make choices

Causes For Mental Health Conditions

There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk of mental illness such as:

  • Early Adverse Life Experiences: This includes any kind of trauma or history of abuse (child abuse, sexual assault, witnessing violence, etc.)

  • Inherited Traits: Mental illness is more common in people who have blood relatives with a mental illness. Certain genes may increase your risk of developing a mental illness, and your life situation may trigger it.

  • Environmental Exposures Before Birth: Exposures to environmental stressors, inflammatory conditions, toxins, alcohol or drugs while in the womb can sometimes be linked to mental illness. 

  • Brain Chemistry: Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain chemicals that carry signals to other parts of our brain and body. When the neural networks involving these chemicals are impaired, the function of the nerve receptors and nerve systems change, leading to depression and other emotional illnesses.

Risk Factors for Developing a Mental Health Condition

Important to note: Not all people who have these risk factors will develop a mental health condition

  • Having issues that negatively impact self-esteem, such as obesity, peer problems, long-term bullying, or academic problems

  • Having been the victim or witness of violence, such as physical or sexual abuse

  • Having other mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, an anxiety disorder, a personality disorder, anorexia or bulimia

  • Having a learning disability or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

  • Having ongoing pain or a chronic physical illness such as cancer, diabetes, or asthma

  • Having certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem or being overly dependent, self-critical or pessimistic

  • Abusing alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs

  • LGBTQ+ in an unsupportive environment

  • Having a parent, grandparent, or other blood relative with depression, bipolar disorder, or alcohol use problems

  • Having a family member who died by suicide

  • Having a dysfunctional family and family conflict

  • Having experienced recent stressful life events, such as parental divorce, parental military service, or the death of a loved one

Complications of not treating Mental Health Conditions

Mental illness is a leading cause of disability. Untreated mental illness can cause severe emotional, behavioral, and physical health problems. Complications sometimes linked to mental illness include:

  • Unhappiness and decreased enjoyment of life

  • Family conflicts

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Social isolation

  • Problems with tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs

  • Missed work or school, or other problems related to work or school

  • Legal problems/involvement in the juvenile justice system

  • Poverty and homelessness

  • Self-harm and harm to others, including suicide or homicide

  • Weakened immune system, so your body has a hard time resisting infections

  • Heart disease and other medical conditions

Youth Mental Health Statistics

  • 37% of students with a mental health condition age 14 and older drop out of school – the highest dropout rate of any disability group

  • High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers

  • Students aged 6-17 with mental, emotional or behavioral concerns are 3x more likely to repeat a grade.

  • Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 and the 3rd leading cause of death among those aged 15-24 in the U.S.

  • 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year

  • 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24

  • The average delay between onset of symptoms and intervention/treatment is 8-10 years

  • 70% of youth in state and local juvenile justice systems have a mental illness

Addressing Youth Mental Health

Know the Warning Signs

It can be difficult to tell whether or not your youth has a mental disorder, but there are certain nonverbal cues and signs you can watch out for. 

  • Have lost interest in things that they used to enjoy

  • Have low energy

  • Sleep too much or too little, or seem sleepy throughout the day

  • Are spending more and more time alone, and avoid social activities with friends or family

  • Fear gaining weight, or diet or exercise excessively

  • Engage in self-harm behaviors (e.g., cutting or burning their skin)

  • Smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs

  • Engage in risky or destructive behavior alone or with friends

  • Have thoughts of suicide

  • Have periods of highly elevated energy and activity, and require much less sleep than usual

  • Say that they think someone is trying to control their mind or that they hear things that other people cannot hear.

Educate Yourself on Mental Health  

Learning everything you can about mental illness is the first step in knowing how to help someone struggling.

NAMI Basics  

National Institute on Mental Health (NIHM)

  • Provides free information and resources on mental illness in adults and children/adolescents

  • Website: https://www.nimh.nih.gov

Mental Health First Aid-Youth Course

  • An 8 hour, in-person course that teaches you how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The training helps you identify, understand, and respond to signs of addictions and mental illnesses.

  • Website: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org

MentalHealth.gov

Center for Disease Control

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

  • Offers free information and publications on mental health and substance abuse. Also provides free resources for teens/adolescents.

  • Website: https://www.samhsa.gov 

Rebecca White