Amid a national crisis, psychologists are on the front lines to protect youth mental health. They are researching, developing, and disseminating solutions.
But they also face many obstacles that can contribute to the problem, including a shortage of mental health providers. POLITICO surveyed 1,400 clinicians who work closely with teens to understand what’s driving this epidemic and how they’re working to tackle it.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
ACEs are traumatic experiences such as experiencing or witnessing abuse and neglect, household dysfunction like parental mental illness and substance use, and domestic or community violence. A landmark study in the 1990s found that a person’s lifelong health can be determined by their childhood experiences. People who have multiple ACEs are at greater risk of suicide attempts, prescription pain medication misuse and other high-risk behaviors.
ACEs can be prevented by eliminating the causes of stress and trauma in youth’s lives, including poverty, community crime, discrimination and lack of responsive relationships. It’s also important to build resilience and strengthen core life skills. Preventing ACEs can also improve a person’s relationship with themselves and others. This will help them be more resilient in times of stress or adversity.
Environmental Stressors
Environmental stressors can be caused by natural disasters, toxins, economic issues, and even climate change. These stressors can impact mental health by causing trauma, loss of resources and belongings, disrupting social networks, reducing access to healthcare, and contributing to higher levels of anxiety or depression.
Studies have shown that positive aspects of the environment, such as good parenting and supportive friendships, can help to offset adverse environmental effects. This is based on the concept of resilience, which suggests that some individuals can develop more adaptive responses to negative environmental stimuli.
Growing up around environmental pollution can have an impact on our mental health – especially during adolescence, when the brain is at its most sensitive to changes in the environment. This includes exposure to noise, light and air pollution, unhealthy sleep cycles and toxic chemicals.
Relationship Issues
Romantic relationship concerns are one of the most common reasons for help-seeking among adolescents. The current study builds on previous research using a unique dataset of help-seeking adolescents to examine how these concerns relate to age, gender and mental health outcomes. Findings indicate that romantic concerns, particularly those relating to the dissolution stage of relationships, were more strongly associated with mental health issues, self-harm and suicide than pre- or during-relationship concerns.
Toxic relationships can result in many negative consequences, including academic decline, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and a loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed. Toxic relationships can also lead to isolation, a major cause of depression in adolescents. Parents can support their teen by showing a united front and being there for them no matter what.
Social Issues
The world we live in can have a major impact on mental health. The social determinants of health—such as food and housing insecurity, racism, conflict and displacement, and climate change—can lead to higher rates of mental illness and lower levels of well-being.
However, the good news is that for most youth, mental health distress is episodic and not permanent. They can recover with treatment, peer and professional supports and services, a supportive family environment and strong community networks.
Increasing access to care, de-stigmatizing mental health, and prioritizing data and research with at-risk populations—such as those in lower socioeconomic status, those from minority groups or youth involved in the justice system—are essential to improving youth mental health. The World Economic Forum is working alongside its partners to advance these efforts.
Identity Issues
An identity crisis can be triggered by any number of factors. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, major life changes or cultural conflicts, people may struggle to figure out who they are and what they believe in.
Psychotherapy offers a safe space for people to discuss their identity issues and learn how to navigate them. A therapist can help them understand their values, explore their relationships and learn to tolerate negative self-perceptions. They can also teach them how to manage stress and develop healthy coping strategies. Depending on the severity, an identity crisis can lead to depression, hopelessness or addiction. It’s important to talk about these problems with family, friends or a mental health professional. If you are experiencing a serious crisis, call 911 or text TALK to 741741 for support.