With the meteoric rise of depression and anxiety among teens, many students are left wondering where it all comes from. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 3.2 million adolescents ages 12-17 have suffered a major depressive episode within the last year alone.
Ms. Arianne Frink, AP Psychology teacher, comments on the possible increase of these mental health disorders: “Whether or not more people have depression, there is definitely an increase in awareness surrounding the stigma of depression. There’s a reduced stigma. People are getting treatment for depression. They are more willing to share their experiences.”
The cause of this increase is still being debated, but Ms. Frink says, “The most obvious answer is technology and social media, and the way that we connect, or more accurately don’t connect in real life. This can make [the people suffering] feel more isolated. Depression has three parts: there are biological, psychological, and social causes that interact, so it’s not just technology. People want to blame that fully, but it’s a lot of different factors.”
Even with the increased awareness, only 20 percent of young people suffering from a mental disorder receive treatment estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This leaves approximately 12 million cases undertreated or untreated completely. Much of this undertreatment has to do with the perception of typical teen behavior. Many believe it’s easy to mistake the signs of depression for adolescent moodiness. Because of this reason, many health professionals were reluctant to diagnose adolescents with mood disorders until the 1980s.
The perceived idea that teens are naturally moody and apathetic can lead to increased stigma regarding the seriousness of mental health issues.
“I think people who put that label on this generation are looking at the output but not the causes,” Frink says about the apathetic label put on teens today. “If you think about all the causes, teenagers are expected to be so involved with school, do well in their academic classes, they’re doing all of these different clubs and organizations, they’re supposed to be active on social media from a social perspective, and it’s almost impossible to be able to do all of these things and do them well and find time to take care of themselves, which can then make them seem apathetic.”
The awareness of mental health has gone up dramatically within Saline High. “Learning to B.R.E.A.T.H.E.” is a class that is currently offered and centers curriculum around mindfulness. Additionally, there are clubs, such as “Minding My Mind Matters,” that allow students to relax and think mindfully.
Despite this awareness, many still worry about the mental state of Saline students. “If I had to put it into one word, I would say stressed--and ‘under pressure’ if I’m allowed to use more words,” says Frink. “They just are so overrun with expectations from all different parts of their lives and all of these unrealistic expectations, and no one is helping them or teaching them the tools to take care of themselves.”
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