Youth Mental Health
Question
This paper is a scientific review of youth mental health. This must include information specific to the prevention or treatment of mental health disorders in youth. The paper must be 5 pages of text plus references (minimum of 15 in-text, references); references do not count in the minimum 5 pages in APA format, 1-inch margins, no more than 12-point font, and double-spaced.


Solution
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.
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