Youth Mental Health

Youth Mental Health

Mental health issues among the youths and children continue to raise a global concern. The world health organization suggests that between 10-and 20% of youths between 14 to 18 years suffer from mental illness (McGorry, et al., 2022). Several factors such as poverty, abuse, violence, and lack of social support contribute significantly to the rise of mental health challenges among the youths. Low and middle-income economies seem to be struck by youth mental health issues (Wilson & Cariola, 2020). The fight against mental health among the youths seems neglected, leading to a severe mental health gap in society. Depressions, anxiety, dementia, attention deficit, and behavioral disorders are the leading mental health cases among the youths (Pedersen, et al., 2019). When mental illness symptoms and cases are left unattended, the problem continues into adulthood, affecting life quality. Generally, youth mental health can be addressed by identifying various types of mental illnesses, causes, diagnosis, and prevention and treatment.

Effects of youth mental health are burdensome to society since it deprives many youths of the privilege of quality living. Governments of various countries need to address youth mental health as one of the global disasters. The emergence of covid-19 has intensified the rise in mental challenges among the youths (Shinn & Viron, 2020). Many youths got pushed into the deep end of mental illnesses due to the covid-19 preventive measures that included social distance and isolation. Lack of social gatherings and close of schools are significant avenues for the rise of youth mental health challenges. Many youths who showed mental illness symptoms but were unattended were left in loneliness, worsening their conditions (Garrido, et al., 2019). Moreover, there were no structured measures to identify youths at risk of mental health that caused fatal effects such as suicide among some youths.

Knowing the prevalence of youth mental health challenges in society is the first step in addressing the issue. Medical and psychological professionals are at the forefront to help identify risk factors that could help youths with mental health challenges (Malla, et al., 2018). Data on youth mental health will inform the right interventions that can be applied to address the issue once and for all. The essence of data collection on mental health statistics among the youths is to establish prevention and treatment measures that can be adopted (Shah, et al., 2020). Identifying youths' mental health data is key to setting proper interventions to prevent and treat mental illnesses. Therefore, youths' mental health should be approached from multifaceted dimensions that lead to a diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Types of youth mental health challenges

The youth's age is a stage of transition from childhood into adulthood where young people struggle to fit in emotionally, socially, and physically in society. Family socio-economic background, childhood abuse, social isolation, long-term physical health condition, and neglect are other factors that cause mental health challenges (Wilson & Cariola, 2020). Some forms of mental illness and disorders prevalent among the youths include dementia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit (Trnka,2021). Young people are often vulnerable to these mental conditions when they lack the needed social, psychological, and physical support.

Depression today affects more youths than it was decades ago. Many youths are under various social and emotional challenges triggered by changes in their social, physical, and psychological environment (Pedersen, et al., 2019). Unemployment is among the significant socio-economic challenges that drive youths into depression. Many youths suffer from low self-esteem due to social pressures and unemployment. Another effect associated with depression is self-harm among the youths. Due to intense emotional pain, some youths may engage in risky sexual behaviors, heavy drinking, and drug abuse that may result in self-harm (Pascoe, et al., 2020). Youths experiencing anxiety can become extremely worried for no good reason. Some mental challenges lead youths to suffer attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that could affect their academic performance in school.

Additionally, many youths suffer from bipolar disorder, which causes shifts in someone's moods and energy levels. Individuals who experience bipolar disorders find it challenging to engage in day-to-day activities (Pascoe, et al., 2020). Bipolar disorder can result in severe disruption to an individual's life and long-term impact on the quality of their life. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can last for months or years, depending on the individual (Reddy, 2019). Lastly, dementia is also a major youth mental health challenge. Symptoms of dementia include feelings of sadness, memory loss, and social disconnection.

Youth Mental Health Diagnosis

Youth mental health remains a significant concern to health practitioners, educators, parents, and governments. There is a need for early diagnosis to help identify the best prevention and treatment method. Mental health diagnoses can be made by a health practitioner, professional caregivers, and psychologists (Shinn & Viron, 2020). Some mental health issues are caused by emotional challenges, socio-economic factors, family history, and general behavioral changes in the body. Therefore, various forms of diagnosis can be used.

Lab Tests

Individuals suffering from mental health challenges can be subjected to lab tests to establish the biological causes of their condition. Lab tests involve examining any medical condition suffered in the past that could be responsible for the mental disorder (Jablensky, 2022). The lab test results will be used to suggest appropriate clinical interventions for the patient. Some lab tests that be performed to diagnose mental health conditions include blood work and imaging exams. In addition, the health care provider can use the lab test results to rule out any other possible cause of mental illness.

Medical History Examination

Some youths' mental health challenges result from bloodline cases where someone in their lineage suffered the same mental disorder. First, an individual will get interrogated to determine whether there is any medical history of mental disorders in their family (Ridout & Campbell, 2018). Next, the health care provider will ask the patient to reflect on their family medical history to establish any link of family medical history with their current condition. Finally, the professional will conclude the patient's case based on their data.

Physical Examination

Suppose the health care provider presumes that there might be other medical conditions responsible for the mental illness; they will do a physical examination (Trnka, 2021). In addition, the provider may check on the patient's temperature, rate of heartbeat, and general body appearance to conclude on their presumption of the mental health condition. In cases where physical examination is not adequate, a lab test will be conducted.

Psychological Evaluation

Mental health patients will be asked questions about their feelings, emotions, thinking, and behavior. The healthcare professional will seek to establish how various body reactions could be related to a specific mental health challenge faced by the youth (Pedersen, et al., 2019). The psychological examination aims to establish the best intervention and treatment for the mental health disorder diagnosed in an individual. In addition, the information from the psychological diagnosis will help the provider rule out other causes of the mental illness.

Prevention of Youth Mental Health Issues

Doctors and psychologists take their time to determine which kind of mental illness an individual is suffering from. An accurate diagnosis will help establish appropriate prevention and treatment (Trnka, 2021). Youths can prevent the causes of mental illness by them using various approaches. Some prevention measures for mental health challenges include physical exercise, eating a balanced diet, association with the right people, and increasing resilience (Lederman, et al., 2019). There is no absolute way of preventing mental health challenges among the youths, but everyone can try what works best for them. For example, an individual at the risk of suffering from depression can avoid isolation and loneliness and create social interaction with the right people. In addition, youths can share with a health care practitioner or a psychiatrist an eminent symptom of mental illness they are suffering.

Youths' mental health challenges can be prevented by engaging the youths in various social activities such as sports to enhance positive relationships. In addition, social activities can enhance the social support needed by youths to build on their emotional strengths (Reddy, 2019). Other prevention measures include recognition of youths' strengths and providing them with opportunities they need to build on their self-confidence and self-esteem. In addition, youths' mental health challenges can also be prevented by encouraging them to engage in positive and healthy behaviors and avoid temptations to drugs and substance abuse.

Treatment of Youths' Mental Health Challenges

Medications

Treatment of mental illness depends on an individual's specific condition. Medical treatment has been suggested for various mental conditions, although it must be supplemented with other forms of treatment (Garrido, et al., 2019). Some psychiatrists recommended medical treatments include antidepressants, mood-stabilizing, anti-anxiety, and antipsychotic medications. Antidepressants can help improve symptoms such as lack of energy, hopelessness, concentration difficulties, and loss of interest in activities (Shah, et al., 2020). Generally, antidepressants are used to treat depression, social anxiety, dementia, and other conditions. Mood-stabilizing medications are used for bipolar disorders, which sometimes get used with antidepressants. Bipolar disorders involve alternating cases of mania and depression.

Psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia are treated using antipsychotic medications. These medications may also be used with others to treat depression and bipolar disorders (Malla, et al., 2018). Lastly, anti-anxiety medications treat panic, fear, and general social anxieties. Anti-anxiety medications are effective for short-term interventions, but they have dependency syndrome when used for a long. They can also be used to treat insomnia and agitation.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy involves interactive sessions between the psychiatrist and an individual. Mental health patients can share their feelings, thoughts, and behavior patterns with the mental health professional (Scholten & Granic, 2019). In addition, they could learn various ways of coping with their condition and stress management skills. The type of psychotherapy involved in mental illness treatment will depend on an individual patient's condition (Lederman, et al., 2019). The psychotherapy process can take months or extend for the long term.

In most cases, psychotherapy involves a one-on-one conversation with the mental health specialists, but sometimes family members might be involved. In addition, many psychotherapy patients share their life journey with a mental health specialist to help them understand events that have shaped them into who they are (Trnka, 2021). Therefore, psychotherapy establishes confidence in the patient, knowing that their case will be heard and help be provided.

Brain-stimulation Treatments

There are cases where medical and psychotherapy interventions for mental illness do not work. Brain-stimulation treatment provides the best alternative for mental health treatment (Baeken, 2019). However, some mental illness has reached a severe level, requiring more advanced treatment and therapy. Therefore, brain stimulation gets reserved for such cases. Brain stimulation involves the deep brain, electroconvulsive, repetitive transcranial magnetic, and nerve stimulations (Garrido, et al., 2019). All these forms of brain stimulation come with their risks and benefit to the patient. Generally, brain-stimulation therapy holds the promise of mental health treatment not offered by other forms of therapies.

Hospitalization

Mental health patients in danger of harming themselves and others are taken for 24-hour inpatient care in hospitals. They are taken to a special care unit within the hospital that deals particularly with mental health cases (Wilson & Cariola, 2020). Other forms of treatment can only be employed when they get confined to a care unit because of their safety and that of others. Hospitalization of mental health patients gets recommended when their conditions get to a severe level that their family members cannot handle.

Drugs and Substance Misuse Treatment

Young people exposed to drug and substance abuse for a long suffer the risk of developing mental illness. Many youths suffering from mental illness can get traced to substance abuse (Pedersen, et al., 2019). The environment and peer pressure play a significant role in pushing the youths into drugs and substance abuse. Excessive drugs and substance abuse results in mental health challenges that may only take therapeutic intervention to get treated (Reddy, 2019). Therefore, substance misuse treatment is among the major treatments for mental illness among youths. The treatment involves a mental health practitioner and a psychiatrist that examines the patient's mental health condition and suggests the best solutions (Pascoe, et al., 2020). Generally, substance misuse treatment for mental illness might take short and long-term interventions to be successful, depending on the case at hand.

Conclusion

Youth mental health has been prevalent over the years in most countries worldwide. Some mental health challenges facing youths and young adults include depression, dementia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and other behavioral disorders. Most of these mental risk factors result from poverty, social environment, history of child abuse, and violence experienced by various individuals. Youth mental health challenges can get diagnosed using lab tests, medical history, and a psychotic approach. The youths' mental health issues can get prevented using different approaches such as engaging in social activities, community projects, and sensitization programs. Youth mental health challenges can get treated using different therapies and approaches such as medication, psychotherapy, brain stimulation, and substance misuse treatment. There is a need to enhance awareness among the youth, which lacks various symptoms of mental health challenges. Awareness campaigns will help reduce the rate of mental illness among young people globally, rising every year. Therefore, youth mental health will require a collaborative approach among various stakeholders in the health care sector.

References

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