Mental health is a condition of well-being, wherein an individual is able to cope up with the normal pressures of life, is able to function productively, realizes his/her capabilities, and contributes to the society. It entails the ability to enjoy one’s life and at the same time learn from past experiences as well as future projections. One who possesses this quality is called mentally healthy. One needs to develop this in order to achieve complete mental health.
Factors that affect a person’s mental health problems include genes as well as environmental conditions, such as risk factors. These include heredity, biological predisposition, neurological disorders, social and demographic aspects, as well as psychosocial factors. These environmental risks that are commonly known to cause mental health problems in adolescents include abuse, violence, poverty, and abuse/domestic violence, inadequate education, unemployment, poor nutritional status, substance abuse, violence at home or at school, poverty, sex-specific behaviours, attitudes, communication and school performance, family violence, and teenage pregnancy. These are some of the causes that adolescents face. Adolescent years are known to be periods of transition, challenges, changes, expansion, development, adjustment, and adjustment.
As a result of these biological factors, adolescents are at high risk to develop certain mental health problems, which include anxiety, mood swings, depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts, personality disorders, substance abuse and dependence, eating disorders, social deviance, delinquent behavior, substance abuse, violence, and other delinquent behaviors. These warning signs are usually detected during the early stages of life when adolescents are still developing appropriately. Early identification of these problems can prevent the onset of more serious issues. For example, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are commonly found in adolescents.
Another way of preventing the onset of mental health problems is to identify any risk factors for such problems, as physical illnesses and family history of physical illness. In addition, you must also manage any issues affecting the child’s environment. For example, your adolescent may be exposed to domestic violence at home, which could cause negative consequences. Thus, it is important to know and understand the activities that take place at home.
There are many warning signs of depression, which includes, sadness, hopelessness, changes in sleep patterns and appetite, changes in thought patterns, changes in sleeping and eating habits, and increased thoughts about death and suicide. Depression is also accompanied by feelings of guilt and worthlessness, irritability, increased tension, decreased interest in things that were once interesting, decreased social interactivity, loss of interest in hobbies and things loved by the adolescent, and feelings of guilt, blame, and estrangement from others. These feelings and behaviors can lead to major depressive episodes that can last for several months. In addition to feeling sad and depressed, adolescents with mental health disorders may also feel restless, start to lose interest in things they used to like, become easily angered or have violent mood swings, have difficulty concentrating, have problems concentrating or paying attention, and feel a lack of control regarding their health, relationships, and finances.
There are different types of mental disorders, depending on the underlying cause and on the severity of the disorder. Major mental disorders include major depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorders, anxiety disorders, social phobia, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and specific phobias. Each type of disorder requires a unique treatment and approach. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to understand what these disorders are and how they affect you, and then you can work towards finding the treatment that will best treat them.
Two other common mental health problems include psychotic disorders and schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and mania. People with psychotic disorders experience hallucinations, including unusual sounds, visual illusions, and self harm.
Another type of mental health problem is that of a physical illness. The most common physical illness that affects people is chronic pain, which is experienced regardless of whether the person is in pain or not. There are also various symptoms that can occur in the body when a person is suffering from a physical illness. Most people who suffer from a physical illness are able to cope with it, but they may have a harder time coping with a mental health problem. It is important to know if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above to better get the help you need to cope with your problem.