mental illness can affect anyone. mental
health affects how we feel think and act.
it's important at every stage of life so
that we can cope with stressful
situations, work productively,
and make meaningful contributions to our
community. however, the statistics are
staggering. over forty five percent of
teens suffer from a mental disorder and
one in five teens suffer from a severe
mental illness -- that's 20% of our teen
population. mental illnesses are brain
function disorders. they have many causes and result from complex interactions
between a person's genes and their
environment. a person struggling with
mental health should not be viewed any
different than if someone were
experiencing a physical illness. mental
illness is not a choice or a failure. it
does not discriminate. it can affect
anyone regardless of age, gender, social
status, ethnicity, or any other aspect of
cultural identity. in fact, mental
illnesses occur at similar rates around
the world, in every culture, and in all
socio-economic groups. the concern with
mental health isn't just about the
statistics, it's about well-being.
it can affect families, friends, and our
communities. you can help make a
difference by learning to recognize the
signs of mental illness. a mental illness
makes the things you do in life hard
like work, school, and socializing. it's
also not always clear when a problem
with mood or thinking has become serious enough to be a concern. sometimes a
depressed mood is normal such as when a person experiences the loss of a loved
one. but if that depressed mood continues to cause distress or gets in the way of
normal daily functioning the person may
benefit from professional care. if you
think you or someone you know might be
struggling with their mental health it
is best to consult a professional. early
identification and effective treatment
is key to treating a disorder and
preventing future disability. a health
care professional will connect symptoms
and experiences to help formulate a
diagnosis. suicide is the second leading
cause of death for young people between
10 to 24. if you're thinking about
suicide are worried about a friend or
loved one or with like emotional support
call 1-800-273-8255.
