Bettering the Mental Health of All

My name is Eva Greener, and I am a youth ambassador with Crescenta Valley’s mental health awareness group CV Cares. With this article I want to spread the news of the importance of teen mental health. 

Teens these days have increased issues surrounding mental health that can cause stress and anxiety. Globally, one in seven 10-19 year olds experience a mental disorder, which accounts for 15% of the global burden of disease in this age group. Adolescents with mental health conditions are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion, discrimination, stigma (affecting readiness to seek help), educational difficulties, risk-taking behaviors, physical ill-health and human rights violations. This can be detrimental for our brain’s health and growth. This can also increase thoughts that their peers are judging them, making them unable to be their authentic selves. Young adults and their peers should be proud of their authentic selves and enjoy their times as youth instead of having a high chance of depression. Moreover, multiple factors affect mental health. 

The more risk factors adolescents are exposed to the greater the potential impact on their mental health. Factors that can contribute to stress during adolescence include exposure to adversity, peer pressure to conform and exploration of identity. Media influence and gender norms can aggravate the disparity between an adolescent’s lived reality and their perceptions or aspirations for the future. 

Other important determinants include the quality of their home life and relationships with peers. Through the open community that is our CV Cares teens feel welcomed and less pressured to fit another’s standards. We have many resources to help our adolescents – and even adults –in La Crescenta. Helping those in need can save a life so I urge you to encourage your friends instead of putting them down. 

As a result, by helping peers and giving them time to be authentic without judging them you can help the mental health of those in need, especially adolescents. 

Our CV Cares team recognizes these problems and hardships and wants to help adolescents who are struggling with their mental health. We are so thankful for everyone’s steadfast support and we will continue to fight on. We as a group will fight to help our community and improve the lives of everyone.