Mental health is frankly the part of our overall health that we tend to neglect the most. Being able to create emotional balance and understanding in our lives is tough, and it’s even tougher from a young age. Despite walls being broken daily regarding mental health across the United States, teenagers still don’t feel comfortable opening up about their emotions. This leads to pent-up stress, anxiety, depression, and other disorders that inhibit their quality of life. Sometimes, daily activities are doing more harm because teens fear talking about them.
Creating a Safe Space
Oftentimes, high school students feel like there is nowhere to turn to properly vent their feelings. They may feel as though friends and family members don’t understand them or may offer unsolicited advice. Therapy sessions can afford a young adult a higher level of care, and a chance to open up without fear of judgment. Some teenagers may need more than just one weekly session to address what’s weighing on their minds. Intensive outpatient therapy, also known as IOP treatment, provides a comprehensive treatment solution that includes group, family, and individual therapy, typically lasting six to ten weeks.
Through IOP treatment, teens better recognize the behaviors and habits in their life that may trigger certain emotions, while learning coping mechanisms to deal with a range of mental health difficulties. Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still treatment options available to teens and their family members. Telehealth services allow young people access to a counselor from the comfort of their bedroom, affording themselves some privacy while venting feelings through these outpatient services.
Stress at School
A lot goes on in the daily life of a student during the school year. Assignments, studying, extracurricular activities, and more, can place a lot of stress on young people. Some students may not feel the challenge. They may pursue Catholic high school admission or charter school admission to pursue opportunities that better afford them an educational boost. For other students, the pressure of deadlines and trying to keep up in the classroom can create plenty of stress. Sometimes, their home environment doesn’t cater to the ability to study in peace or focus on homework.
Adolescents may also be dealing with issues outside of the classroom. Bullying is still a tremendous problem, and while teachers will do their best to prevent these troubles, it’s hard to intervene in the personal life of a student. Sometimes, struggles at home carry themselves into the hallways, leaving students distracted and unable to focus on what’s being taught. Family life difficulties can leave teens without the ongoing support they may need to feel accommodated during their studies and their pursuit of higher education.
Social Media
Bullying has become even more of an issue for teens away from high school. Despite the best efforts of some schools, online bullying runs more rampant than ever. Social media can be the source of depression and suicidal thoughts for some high schoolers, who find themselves being picked on. Without an outlet, teens turn to substance use to act as their compass to navigate these negative thoughts that are presented right on their screen.
While social media does afford some level of peer support systems, posts that may not be directed at a teenager can also do damage, especially when it comes to body image. Clinicians have found teenagers can feel uncomfortable in their own skin when looking at flawless and touched-up photos of influencers, celebrities, or even classmates online. This can lead to unhealthy behaviors when it comes to diet and exercise, or improper medication management to help lose weight. The important thing to understand is that mental health issues can impact people at any age, and everyone needs their proper outlet to vent.