By Heidi Kahme
The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. They define mental health as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. Around 20 percent of the world’s children and adolescents have mental disorders or problems.
In the U.S., one in ten children and teens have serious emotional or behavioral problems. Many others have symptoms that may lead to problems that are more serious if not treated. About half of mental disorders begin before the age of 14. Mental health is an integral and essential component of a child’s overall health and well-being.
Despite the existence of effective treatments for mental disorders, there is a belief that they are untreatable or that people with mental disorders are difficult, not intelligent, or incapable of making decisions. This stigma can lead to abuse, rejection and isolation and exclude people from health care or support.
With support from the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance, for two days in October, 24 Hopewell Valley community members including community leaders, clergy, first responders, parents, Hopewell Valley Regional School District staff and coaches attended Youth Mental Health First Aid training. This training prepared us to recognize and respond to the warning signs of mental and substance use disorders. We learned that mental illnesses are real, common and treatable. A surprising fact we learned was 90 percent of individuals with a mental disorder are treatable with a variety of therapies and supports, yet 2/3 of those with a diagnosable mental disorder do not seek treatment.
As Youth Mental Health First Aiders, we have a better understanding of what mental health is, what some of the common diagnosis are, and how to respond to youth who might be experiencing a crisis. The training gave us the skills to handle a crisis in a nonjudgmental, safe way and inspires hope for the youth we are helping. It is a framework for providing immediate support to the youth and getting them connected to those who can help.
Among the most common mental health challenges that occur in children and adolescents are anxiety disorders. They affect one in eight youth. Substance abuse sometimes occurs with anxiety disorders as a form of self-medication to help cope. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2004), nine percent of youth ages 12-17 experienced at least one depressive episode in the past year.
In May 2012, 732 Hopewell Valley Regional School District students in grades 7-12 participated in the Search Institute’s Attitudes and Behavior survey. Depending on the grade, between five to 15 percent felt sad or depressed most or all of the time. Sixty-four students had attempted suicide one or more times. (Yes, you read that correctly).
A study released in October by the JED Foundation revealed that a young person’s emotional health and well being are key indicators of first-year college success, as much as or more so than previous academic performance. Moreover, it shows that higher levels of stress and anxiety were linked to an increased risk of substance abuse during that first year. Stress is a common theme amongst first-year college students but what is concerning is 50 percent of students felt stressed most or all of the time and 36 percent did not feel as if they were in control of managing the stress of day-to-day college life.
Julie Lythcott-Haims noticed a disturbing trend during her decade as a dean of freshmen at Stanford University. Incoming students were brilliant and accomplished and virtually flawless, on paper. But with each year, more of them seemed incapable of taking care of themselves. She cites reams of statistics on the rise of depression and other mental and emotional health problems among the nation’s young people.
Vicky Abeles, director of The Race to Nowhere, writes in the introduction of her New York Times best seller Beyond Measure: “Still fragile and impressionable, they [children] feel they must outshine their peers with perfect performances in every realm: school, test scores, sports, arts, and activities. If they fall short, they believe they have failed.”
Yahoo Parenting and Silver Hill Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Connecticut, surveyed more than 3,100 parents about teen mental health issues and substance abuse, finding 65 percent of parents are more concerned now with their teen’s mental health. Yet, only 18 percent of teens had been formally diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or ADHD; fewer than that were taking medication for their respective disorder.
Perhaps it’s the wide spread misunderstanding and stigma surrounding mental illness. It is sometimes difficult for parents to tell whether their child is developing or experiencing a mental health challenge or disorder, or simply going through normal changes because they are changing rapidly already.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends you let your child’s doctor know of the presence of one or more of the following symptoms. In younger children: marked decline in school performance; poor grades in school despite trying very hard; severe worry or anxiety, as shown by regular refusal to go to school, go to sleep or take part in activities that are normal for the child’s age; frequent physical complaints; hyperactivity (fidgeting, constant movement beyond regular playing with or without difficulty paying attention); persistent nightmares; persistent disobedience or aggression (longer than 6 months) and provocative opposition to authority figures; frequent, unexplainable temper tantrums; and threats to harm or kill oneself.
For pre-adolescents and adolescents: marked decline in school performance; inability to cope with problems and daily activities; marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits; extreme difficulties in concentrating that get in the way at school or at home; sexual acting out; depression shown by sustained, prolonged negative mood and attitude, often accompanied by poor appetite, difficulty sleeping or thoughts of death; and severe mood swings.
With pre-adolescents and adolescents, you should also be looking out for strong worries or anxieties that get in the way of daily life, such as at school or socializing; repeated use of alcohol and/or drugs; intense fear of becoming obese with no relationship to actual body weight, excessive dieting, throwing up or using laxatives to lose weight; persistent nightmares; threats of self-harm or harm to others; self-injury or self-destructive behavior; frequent outbursts of anger, aggression; repeated threats to run away; aggressive or non-aggressive consistent violation of rights of others; opposition to authority, truancy, thefts, or vandalism; and strange thoughts, beliefs, feelings, or unusual behaviors.
As a community we have the responsibility to be sure our youth grow up to be caring, confident, responsible and healthy – this includes mentally healthy. We know having Development Assets in their lives and having caring adults and strong, positive relationships with others are the supports our young people need to succeed. Can you help?
For more information on Developmental Assets or Youth Mental Health First Aid, please contact the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance at (609) 737-0120, Ext. 642.
Heidi Kahme is the coordinator of the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance whose vision is a community united in the development of caring, confident and responsible youth.
