Mental Health: Overcome The Stigma And Seek Help
On Mental Health Awareness Month, Geetha Narayanan writes about teen mental health and how to overcome the stigma and seek help.
Geetha Narayanan
Overcome the stigma
Mental health refers to an individual’s emotional and psychological well-being. It affects how we think, act, and feel. It helps us handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. It is important to take care of mental health at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
There is often stigma associated with seeking support for mental health. Being overwhelmed by ‘feelings’ or ‘emotions’ can be perceived as weakness. Bottling these up can manifest into physical problems such as anxiety-related illness, high blood pressure, weight gain, ulcers, sleep disorders, and other psychosomatic symptoms. Anxiety and stress can have a lasting impact on an individual’s health, ranging from a simple cold to more serious conditions like autoimmune diseases and cancer! Mental illness can also be hereditary, just like diabetes or high blood pressure.
Seek professional health
While we think nothing of seeking professional help for financial advice and visiting a physician if we are physically ill, we seem to balk at seeking help for mental health. If we are unable to deal with mental health issues using our regular tools, it is important to seek support early. As Michelle Obama says, “We would never tell someone with a broken leg that they should stop wallowing and get it together. We don’t consider taking medication for an ear infection something to be ashamed of! We shouldn’t treat mental health conditions any differently.”
Adolescents at risk
While it is incumbent on all of us to focus on our mental well-being, addressing mental health issues in teens and adolescents demands greater urgency and focus. 2021 CDC data highlights that adolescent mental health continues to worsen, and more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless, and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health. Some groups are more affected than others, and these feelings of distress were found to be more common among LGBQ+ students, female students, and students across racial and ethnic groups.
Stress factors on teenagers
Being a teenager is challenging as many physical, emotional, and psychological changes are happening. Over and above these, there are academic and social pressures!
The isolation that teens experienced during COVID and the post-COVID years led to an increased reliance on social media for the company of peers, and that, unfortunately, led to newer pressures and problems! Cosmopolitan areas like the SF Bay Area, brings in a diverse melting pot of socio-political and cultural backgrounds, creating wide gaps in cultures and traditions. These may also lead to intergenerational and family-of-origin stress factors.
Be vigilant for some of these common symptoms
Stress is a part of life and cannot be avoided, but sometimes it can escalate into a mental health problem. Some of the common symptoms in your teen that may alert you of a potential problem are:
- Excessive Fatigue
- Lack of Sleep or too much sleep
- Uninterested in their daily activities (Academic/Social)
- Weight loss
- Lack of appetite
- Increased engagement in social media
- Sad, to the point of feeling hopeless
- Angry, defiant behavior
- Over-exercising
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- Angry outbursts
- Isolation
While these symptoms may not all appear at once, and in one person, if you notice some of these persisting for two weeks or more, do seek help as soon as possible.
Teens need your support
When a teen is going through any mental health issue, they need to be supported and feel that they are not alone. It is important for them to be seen and heard, especially by their parents, peers, and other communities that the teen may be a part of. As a parent or guardian, here are some professionals you can take the help of.
Specialists who can help
Doctor: You can take your teen to their pediatrician or to your general practice physician and share your concerns. The doctor may prescribe medication and/or refer your teen to a psychiatrist and/or a psychotherapist.
Psychiatrist: It is a good idea to visit a psychiatrist to address this issue, as they conduct a full psycho-social assessment and prescribe medication accordingly.
Gynecologist: In some cases, stress may trigger hormone irregularities in teenage girls, leading to irregular periods or bouts of it. It is a good idea to have an assessment done by a gynecologist.
Psychotherapist: Talking to a third person, like a therapist, can help teens express their stressors. A therapist can assist in identifying their blind spots and teach teens tools to overcome them.
Communicate honestly and openly at home
On a daily basis, parents, teachers, and the local community can build awareness, volunteer support, and advocate for mental health. School administrators and teachers can organize workshops and events to identify and address mental health issues. Parents need to communicate honestly and openly at home and create a safe, nurturing environment so their teens can approach them in case of distress.
Myths v/s Realities of mental health
Myth: Mental illness affects only weak, sensitive people.
Reality: Mental illness can affect anyone and has an impact on overall health.
Myth: Mental illness happens only in lower socio-economic populations or certain ethnicities.
Reality: Mental health does not discriminate based on socio-economic class, caste, or ethnic group.
Myth: You cannot have poor mental health if your life is good.
Reality: Many factors can affect mental health, and most people experience mental illness at some point in their lives.
Myth: You are supposed to solve all your problems within your four walls. Talking to a stranger about your problems is shameful.
Reality: Talking to a stranger, such as a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, can help you understand your situation and learn coping tools.
Myth: Therapy is needed only when you are in crisis.
Reality: Therapy can be helpful in dealing with any issues or stressors and can improve your overall well-being.
Myth: Mental health treatment is a lifelong treatment. I am too old for this.
Reality: Treatment does not have to be lifelong as there are various types of therapy modalities that can address short term life stressors.
Myth: Psychiatric medications are all bad, have too many side effects, and do not get better. I will also become overly dependent on them for the rest of my life.
Reality: It takes some time to get used to prescribed medications. You can work with your psychiatrist to decide on dosage, duration, and plan for titration of the medication.
Geetha Narayanan
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Cover photo by Keegan Houser on Unsplash.
Healing and Growth
I guide my clients towards clarity, connection, meaning, and a deeper understanding of themselves and their world view. Together, we cultivate a relationship of mutual respect that may heal and allow one’s best hopes to be achieved. I have been in practice for over 15 years have worked with individuals, children adolescents and couples