The adolescent years are the most crucial, as they shape our cognitive abilities or physical appearance. The lifestyle change has affected our development and personality in every way and ultimately made us who we are. But has it been a good change?

When it comes to mental health, adolescents are the most ignored group globally. Because of peer pressure, academic excellence, relationship strain, and much more, they continue to battle mental health issues silently. This silent battle poses several threats, like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and so on. It turns out to be more severe when they fight all alone. 

According to the World Health Organization, every 1 out of 6 people, aged 10–19, experiences some sort of mental disorder. This accounts for 13% of the global cases, and with the rapid lifestyle change, one cannot expect that things will go the same way.

So, how can we change this?

To put it simply, making mental health services more accessible among adolescents is the key solution.

In this post, we are going to look at the various challenges that adolescents face during their formative years when it comes to accessing help. And by the end of the post, you will find out the solutions with the services for mental health, along with some tips.

Impact of Poor Mental Health on Adolescents

It is important to feel what we want to look like. In the adolescent years, children are often conscious of their outlook. They want to look good, dress well, and get attention. There is nothing wrong with that. However, behind those good looks and loads of smiles, there lies sadness, deeply unconveyed thoughts, and emotions.

There is no denying that poor mental health impacts the physical appearance of children. An increase in stress hormones and prolonged cortisol levels can disrupt the natural balance of hormones. This leads to various other health challenges, like delayed growth or puberty. 

Another such change that is often common is eating and nutrition habits. For instance, changes in diet patterns or eating habits can affect nutrition, skin health, and overall growth. They often neglect their hygiene, self-care routine, and so on.

Concluding, having poor mental health can affect our lifestyle in a completely different way. Since there is a connection between cognitive health and physical fitness, it is important to take care of our emotions and thoughts to have a healthy body. While cognitive well-being can be an issue that directly affects our emotional well-being, there is no denying that it affects our physical well-being too.

Key Takeaways, 

• An increase in stress levels leads to hormonal changes
• Changes in appetite and diet
• Disturbances in sleep patterns
• Neglecting self-care and personal hygiene
• Increase in the consumption of illegal substances
• Weakens the immune system and leads to chronic illness 

In the following section, let’s take a look at how our cognitive health can significantly impact our emotional well-being. For starters, one can see that teen anxiety has been rising globally today. It has several reasons; however, there have been no solutions, and one keeps on fighting depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. 

Impact of Mental Distress on Emotional Well-Being

When it comes to experiencing emotions, there are multifaceted approaches to dealing with them. While some seek some healthy coping strategies like journaling or exercising, others seek consolation by adopting unhealthy habits like stress-eating, using illegal substances, and so on.

In the adolescent years, it gets quite overwhelming to figure out which is the right way. As these are formative years, one gets perplexed about how to help themselves. Even when they speak about seeking help, there is a ton of complexity to deal with. Let’s have a look at the impact on emotional well-being.

Conditions like bipolar disorder, mood disorders, depression, anxiety, and others are fairly common among people of all ages. Persistent feelings of hopelessness, extreme mood swings, and intense phobias are highly common among children and are still ignored in the most developed countries of the world. There is no proper explanation of what conditions have given rise to this. 

Similarly, heightened phobias, chronic stress, and PTSD are all the results of poor mental health and make children feel disconnected from the world, leading to strained relationships. As a result, they struggle to function normally, leading to emotional dysregulation.

Key Takeaways, 

• Mood disorders, anxiety, phobias, irritability, and anger
• Emotional numbness
• Heightened emotions
• Lack of interpersonal relationships
• Lack of motivation and self-esteem

Similarly, heightened fear and anxiety can cause distress in childhood and affect lifelong. Emotions are complex, twisted, and untangled. How about we untangle these complexities to gain fresh perspectives with some mental health help? 

Challenges Adolescents Face While Accessing Mental Health

Discussing the various challenges faced by children is one great deal, but when it comes to accessing mental health help, that is another concern. In this section, we are going to discuss how getting help for psychological struggles can be a task for adolescents.

Some Common Challenges to Mental Health Accessibility are:

• Stigma about receiving psychological help
• Fear of judgment from peers, teachers, and families
• Lack of awareness about psychological and emotional issues
• Expensive treatment and counseling sessions
• Shortage of psychiatrists and healthcare professionals in remote areas
• Worry about breaches of confidentiality and privacy 
• No access to reliable transportation
• Lack of support in the education system
• Parental resistance 
• Inadequate insurance coverage

Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach that includes campaigns, awareness programs, and affordable confidential services in society. Adolescents must get the help they need while also seeking support that requires unique addresses and concerns.

However, it can be difficult for parents to understand the differences between ups and downs. Since parenthood is also a journey, it needs unconditional love and support from the parents and families to understand and overcome the mental health challenges. Once these challenges are addressed, the solutions are just around the corner.

In Conclusion,

Addressing these challenges to overcome stigma, fear, and other issues can bring unique solutions to overall well-being and development. Affordable, confidential services and a comprehensive support system are some of the essential steps to receiving mental health services. By acknowledging these obstacles, we can foster a better environment for adolescents who feel encouraged to receive help whenever they need it.

How Do I Find Mental Health Services in Arizona?

Start by acknowledging the unique needs of your child’s psychological distress to understand what the individual is going through. When choosing a service for mental health, check recommendations and reviews online and seek information about the institution itself. Ask your friends and family about it, and consider other factors too, like cost, location, and so on.

If you have been looking for mental health services near you in Arizona, get in touch with the trained professionals at Azitts. The healthcare experts first diagnose you, ask you various questions to understand your mental health, and guide you with the right coping strategies. 

Live happy, stay happy!