Mental Illness in Adolescents by Jessica Tipton

Jessica Tipton

Mental Illness in Adolescents 

Introduction

Throughout a person’s childhood, they are trying to find their identity, keeping an attractive physique, and trying to fit in as best as they can. With all of these social stresses, young children and teenagers have become more susceptible to gaining a mental disorder such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and eating disorders. Over half of adults with mental illnesses, showed signs of the same illnesses as a teenager (“A Depressing Trend: Teenage Mental Illness Is on the Rise”). A life suffering from these types of illnesses is a struggle: always worrying about social situations, judgments from peers, and a continuous feeling of loneliness. Recently, studies have shown a rise in mental disorders in adolescence causing an epidemic. The main problem with identifying a depressed child is the illness cannot be observed by how the adolescent looks, but an individual has to learn their common behaviors. As a society, we should focus on getting young children who have these disorders help, and attempt to prevent increases of mental illnesses in young people.

Our society continues to shame children for their negative feelings, even though the third leading cause of death in young adults is suicide to escape the pain they might be feeling. Many people believe that having a mental disorder is a flaw which can only be treated by “growing thick skin”. Ideas such as these make it challenging for sufferers to seek help that could ease their pain or even save their lives. Because many people are unaware of the correct information regarding mental disorders, they continue to propel stigmas against the range of illnesses. Improvement of detecting mental disorders in young children, the treatments of youth’s mental illnesses, and preventative measures need to be instated to protect teenagers.

History

            Most research of mental disorders in young children started in the early 20^th century starting with the Juvenile Psychopathic Institute’s opening in 1909. This facility’s goals were to study patterns within the children including their social structures, attitude towards different activities, and motivations ("A History of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the United States."). This program ignited a curiosity in psychiatry around the world causing many scientists to focus their work on the treatment of the mentally disturbed. World War II was a particularly unique catalyst for mental illness research due to the vast amount of drafting that occurred. Research shows that drafted children who had recorded behavior problems were more likely to “be prematurely discharged, disciplined, wounded, or killed.”(“A History of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the United States.") The war exemplified issues the current society had regarding the treatment of developing children, and the drastic mental effects it could have resulted in.

Once the war was over, President Truman signed the National Mental Health Act promoting change in the mental health industry. After the establishment of President Truman’s bill, the National Institute of Mental Health was formed in 1949, and the American Academy of Child Psychiatry was formed in 1953 ("A History of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the United States."). Due to government motivation to treat mental disorders, the lobotomy was introduced in the 1930’s but didn’t gain popularity until the mid-1950. This procedure was highly dangerous because it involved sedating a patient, inserting a thin metal rod between their eyeball and eyelid and manipulating the rod to disconnect the neural passages in the front of the brain from the neural passages in the back of the brain ("The History of Mental Illness."). The goal of this procedure was for the patient to lose their depressive emotions and traumatic memories.

The condition of many mental health asylums during the mid-1900 were horrific and dilapidated. Most of the facilities had a large number of patients and a small staff to care properly for them, and the lack of treatments meant the patients couldn’t progress and improve their health. Once pharmaceutical drugs were introduced, rates of asylum patients decreased drastically because they finally received proper treatments, and were able to receive care at home.

Examples

            Currently, our society is faced with an overwhelming epidemic of mental illnesses in young children and the effects that mental disorders cause. The problems associated with mental dysfunctions continue to worsen throughout years of ignoring the root problem. Reports of teenagers who have a major depressive episode have skyrocketed from 8.7% in 2005 to 11.5% in 2014 ("Teen Depression on the Rise Says New Pediatrics Study."). A major depressive episode, or MDE, is the occurrence of a depressive, low energy mood for at least a consistent two weeks. Symptoms of a MDE vary in each patient, but include a loss of self-esteem, a lack of motivation, and difficulties sleeping and concentrating. Because of the large increase of MDE’s in youth and the lack of corresponding treatments, we can conclude that children are not seeking the help they need and continue to suffer. A study by the Department of Health and Human Services proved that teenage girls were at higher risk for developing depression than boys of the same ages ("Teen Depression on the Rise Says New Pediatrics Study.").

Solutions

Reducing rates of mental illnesses of adolescents within the United States involves diagnosing and treating preexisting mental health conditions. Preventing mental illnesses from arising in other children is also required to lower adolescent mental illness rates. This process will require the adjustment of both the educational system and the healthcare system.

Many schools should have an active role in attempting to prevent the development of mental health conditions by offering councilors who specialize in adolescent mental illnesses. The schools should require teachers to take a course in identifying signs of mental health conditions or high stress. School districts should encourage parental education of mental illnesses by conducting seminars, emailing handouts, and having parent-councilor conferences. Currently students are required to take a ‘sexual education’ course at some point in their schooling, but a ‘health and wellness’ course may benefit them more. In this course, students could learn about drugs and alcohol, sexual education, mental illnesses, and emotions. With this information, students could be able to identify what they are feeling and determine if those emotions are healthy.

The healthcare system in the United States often isolates mental illnesses by not including treatments in insurance policies, and lacking in treatment facilities. The government should require insurance companies to cover medical bills regarding mental illnesses the same as medical bills. Tax reductions and government funding should be offered to facilities that offer mental illness treatments. With the government funding mental hospitals, they would be able to regulate the types of treatments and medical professionals offered at the facility to ensure proper care.

Within the past century, mental illness professionals have begun to find solutions to resolving or coping with various forms of mental illnesses. The psychiatric community has found that multiple mental health professionals may be needed for an individual’s treatment plan. (1) Different professionals have different responsibilities, tasks, and goals while working with a patient. Case managers are a type of social worker who can help create a treatment plan with various psychiatric professionals and psychiatric facilities. The case manager can also find financial options with insurance plans, state or local programs, or charitable foundations. (1) Physiatrists are able to diagnose mental illnesses and prescribe medications designed to diminish or treat the condition. These physiatrist’s are licensed medical doctors, and are trained in various therapies. (2) Phycologists, also known as therapists, are able to diagnose mental health conditions but are only able to treat patients with various therapies without medication. However, phycologist can refer the patient to a physiatrist if they feel therapy is not enough. (2) A councilor is not able to diagnose a patient or prescribe medication, but is able to provide therapies in order to cope with life difficulties. These different psychiatric professionals can specialize in many areas of mental healthcare such as adolescence, drug/alcohol abuse, trauma, and more.

             A concoction of different therapies or medications may be necessary to treat different mental illnesses. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is the most common form of therapy and can help patient and their family understand their emotions and actions. The councilor can help the client change their habits or thinking and reduce stress. Psychoeducation is a form of therapy focused on finding coping techniques and teaching the client and their family signs of relapse. (1) Support groups can help people find their way out of isolation and get tips from other mental illness sufferers. Assertive community treatment (ACT) is a 24/7 treatment facility that offers patients multiple psychiatric professionals who work together to treat a person. The staff at an ACT center regulates patient’s medication, employment, social interaction, and eating habits. (3)

Absurdity and Mental Illnesses

            Albert Camus’ philosophy of absurdism focuses on outrageous activities or concepts in our daily lives. Absurdism can be found in adolescent mental illnesses today because of the high rates, and the lack of solutions. The mental health system in the United States is in shambles but there is no progress being made to prevent or treat sufferers. Camus would have questioned why there has been so little research and treatments made early in the century, and a large amount of progress made in the end of the century. I believe that he would have also questioned why more children are gaining mental illnesses now verses earlier in the century. If Camus were alive today, I believe he would attempt to make a difference in the psychiatric community to find answers to various questions.

Conclusion

            A large amount of children in the United States struggle with mental health conditions brought on by genetics, societal aspects, or a mix and have nowhere to turn. With the government’s help, psychiatric methods, and parental support, these children could get treated for their illness and possibly prevent other adolescents from gaining mental conditions. By finding treatments and decreasing mental illness rates of children, the psychiatric system can thrive and loose its absurdity.

Works Citied

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Schowalter, John E., MD. "A History of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the United States." Psychiatric Times. N.p., 01 Sept. 2003. Web. 04 Apr. 2017. <https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/history-child-and-adolescent-psychiatry-united-states>.

"Teen Depression on the Rise Says New Pediatrics Study." Time. Time, n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <https://time.com/4572593/increase-depression-teens-tennage-mental-health/>.

"The History of Mental Illness." The History of Mental Illness. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <http://www.toddlertime.com/advocacy/hospitals/Asylum/history-asylum.htm>.

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