Children’s Mental Health Awareness
May is a time when we typically focus on what we are going to do during the summer and, if you are a youth, trying not to think about the fall when school starts again. It is also a month that we can take a pause and look at our mental health to see if we need a tune up.
Youth mental health conditions have increased throughout the past year and only continues to grow as less and less young people are reaching out for help. May Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that youth can and should have a voice in what they want their mental health to look like and that adults need to find a way to foster communication in order to learn about the changes that young people want to see in their own lives.
Below are some current statistics regarding youth mental health:
· 1 in 3 youth are going without treatment of mental illness
· 27% of youth that receive treatment for depression get consistent care
· Youth aged 11-17 had a 9% increase in mental illness over the last year
· Nearly half of the sampled youth stated that they have had thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation in the past year.
Some of these statistics may seem overwhelming and reflect a difficult reality for many youth. Challenges to finding a mental health provider that is a good fit and accessing a facility that treats children/adolescent mental health disorders are both contributing factors to this unfortunate reality.
Adults can be mindful and keep an eye out for changes in youth behavior that may indicate mental health struggles, such as:
· Changes in sleep patterns
· Changes in energy levels
· Changes in concentration
· Change in appetite
· Change in motivation
What can you do?
If an adult becomes concerned about a young person’s mental health, check in with them and ask how things are going. Offer to chat with them or to check in at a later time with them if they don’t seem open to talking. Make a point of reaching out and offer the option for the youth to speak to someone else about any changes in the way they are thinking and feeling. Also, adults play a key role in breaking down the negative stigma around mental health and young people need to hear that they are not broken and can make changes for the better.
If you aren’t sure where to start, give TEAM a call to schedule an appointment with one of our Clinicians. They can complete an evaluation, provide suggestions about next steps for the youth in your life, and make sure that they are heard throughout their experience.
