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Start Talking!
Know! To Focus
On Mental Health
5/11/2018
If our pancreas has a chemical imbalance, we seek treatment. If our
kidneys are not physiologically working right, we seek treatment. When
our most complex organ, the brain, is not physiologically working right
or has a chemical imbalance, for some reason we ignore or hide it. May
is Mental Health Month; an opportunity to break the negative stigma
that surrounds mental illness and promote the well-being of the whole
individual.
Mental health conditions are far more common among teens than most
people would imagine. In fact, one in five youth ages 13 to 18 have or
will develop a serious mental illness.
They are disorders that affect a person’s thinking, feeling or mood,
impacting their ability to interact with others and function in their
daily lives. However, just like many physical conditions, mental health
conditions can be treatable and people can and do recover and live
happy, full lives.
Mental illness is no one’s fault and is rarely the result of one
particular thing. Instead, research suggests that there are multiple
linking causes including genetics, environment and lifestyle. According
to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), extreme stress,
traumatic events and substance abuse are among the factors that can
make a person more susceptible.
The importance of early detection and intervention is crucial, yet the
average delay between the onset of symptoms and intervention is usually
between 8 to 10 years - and lack of treatment can be fatal. Suicide is
now the second leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year olds, and the
third leading cause of death for 10 to 24-year-olds. More than 90
percent of young people who die by suicide have a mental health
condition.
Adolescents with untreated mental illnesses are also more likely to
drop out of school, have chronic physical health conditions in
adulthood and have a shortened lifespan of up to 25 years.
Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14. For some
youth, the onset of symptoms can be scary and confusing, and for some
parents, it can be unclear whether what they are seeing in their teen
is typical adolescent behavior and personality changes or symptoms of a
mental health condition.
Every child with mental illness will have different experiences, even
those with the same diagnosis. However, common warning signs include:
Feeling sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks (crying, fatigued,
unmotivated)
Trying to harm or kill oneself or making plans to do so
Out-of-control, risk-taking behaviors that can cause harm to self or
others
Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason (racing heart, physical
discomfort, fast breathing)
Significant weight loss or gain (not eating, throwing up or using
laxatives to lose weight)
Severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
Repeated use of drugs or alcohol
Drastic changes in behavior, personality or sleeping habits
Extreme difficulty in concentrating or staying still that can lead to
problems in school
Intense worrying that gets in the way of daily activities, including
hanging out with friends and going to class
As a parent who suspects there may be an issue with your child, there
are four very important things you can do, according to the experts at
NAMI. Talk with your pediatrician, get a referral to a mental health
specialist, work with your child’s school and connect with other
families experiencing similar situations.
A teen experiencing symptoms of mental illness needs to know they are
not alone, and that they have many resources available to them as well,
including Ok2Talk.org – an online opportunity to connect with other
young people who may be going through the same things as them.
To connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis
support via text message – text NAMI to 741-741. For additional
information and support, call the NAMI helpline at 800-950-NAMI or
visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness at NAMI.org.
Learn how to get the drug prevention conversation started at
StartTalking.Ohio.Gov.
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