June 2, 2019 - "Mental Health Conditions Among Our Young People"

I have been thinking about Mental Health Conditions, particularly among our young people.  This has been a particular worry or concern for me.  Let me be more specific in what I mean when I talk about mental illness.   The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that a mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, or mood.  Such conditions may affect someone’s ability to relate to others and function each day.  Each person will have different experiences—even people with the same diagnosis.  Recovery, including meaningful roles in social life, school, and work, is possible when you start treatment early and play a strong role in your own recovery process.  According to NAMI, here are some sobering facts about mental health conditions.
 
· One in five teens lives with a mental health condition.
· 50% of mental health conditions emerge by age 14 and 75% by age 24.
· A high percentage of high school students living with mental conditions drop out of school.
· Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth and young adults.
· Less than half of youth with mental health conditions receive treatment.
 
NAMI has also presented what they say are the ten most common warning signs of a mental health condition:
· Feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks (e.g., crying regularly, feeling fatigued, feeling unmotivated).
· Seriously trying to harm or kill oneself or making plans to do so.
· Severe out-of-control, risk-taking behaviors that can cause harm to self or others.
· Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart, physical discomfort or fast breathing.
· Not eating, throwing up or using laxatives to lose weight; significant weight loss or weight gain.
· Severe mood swings that can cause problems in relationships.
· Repeated use of alcohol or drugs.
· Drastic changes in behavior, personality, or sleeping habits (e.g., waking up early and acting agitated.
· Extreme difficulty in concentrating on staying still that puts a person in physical danger or causes school failure.
· Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities like hanging out with friends or going to classes.
 
NAMI gives the following advice to youth and young adults:  “If you see these warning signs in yourself or a friend, take them seriously.  Share your concerns with someone you trust and ask how you can help.  Support is available and you are not alone.”
 
Until next week,
Fr. John