Mental Health In Adolescents Across the U.S.

Marisa Brown

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As of 2016, in the United States, 16.5% of people ages 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder, but only 50.6% of those received treatment. The mental health of adolescents ages 10-19 is a critical issue and can cause struggles in school, decision-making, and physical health. Many mental health issues can be correlated with substance use and violence and can be carried into adulthood. Someone with a major illness may have to go through medication and therapy to help the brain. This does not help cure the brain of the thoughts people go through, it simply helps balance chemicals in the brain that influence emotions and thought patterns.

There are many illnesses that are common among teens. Some of these include depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Depression is very common, but it is not just feeling sad on occasion. Depression is the constant feeling of a depressed mood and little to no interest in activities that cause a change in one’s daily life. Anxiety is the feeling anxious or nervous but to an extreme. It can be described as a fight-or-flight response. Lastly, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or ADHD can cause people to focus, pay attention, or control their behaviors. All of these affect how one is feeling and can affect how others around them feel also. It is perfectly normal to be anxious, sad, or hyper, but when it gets excessive is when a professional should be talked to for medication and/or therapy depending on what the illness is.