There’s some people out and about claiming that the mental health stigma has been crushed and there’s not really a need to discuss teen depression treatment anymore–I’m here to say those people are dreadfully wrong. Depression and anxiety levels are still increasing, specifically among teens. Now, some people’s argument is that these teens will “grow out of it,” but that doesn’t happen as often as people want to believe.
Around 80 percent of people struggling with depression won’t receive treatment–that’s insane. Can you imagine 80 percent of people with the flu or an infection not receiving treatment? It would be catastrophic. The Huffington Post recently published an article discussing this rising issue.
Why teen depression treatment is still desperately needed
Many teens experiencing depression feel like they have nowhere to turn to. Some of them even take the dire measure of taking their own life–that’s the worst case scenario, but it shouldn’t be a scenario at all. We have the power to prevent many of these types of feelings, but the stigma against mental health issues is blocking the way.
Teen depression treatment should be readily available and teens should not feel embarrassed seeking it out–but they do. They feel that if they do reach out, they’ll become an embarrassment to their family, that they’ll be admitting they’re “broken,” and that avoiding all that is better than getting the teen depression treatment they desperately need.
So, what can we do as parents and teachers? First off, in school we need to actually discuss mental health. Rarely when you enter a Health & Wellness course do you hear them discussing mental health–it’s always physical health. Many just assume that physical health is the most important because it’s the one you can see and diagnose the easiest; this is so wrong. Mental health holds the same amount of importance in overall health, yet it’s not treated this way. That needs to change.
Secondly, as parents, we need to speak to our children about mental health issues. We need to make it clear that if they feel like they’re struggling with something, they can turn to us without judgement. They need to feel as if they can reach out for help, because that’s the main reason teens don’t.
If you suspect your child may be struggling with mental health issues, it’s essential to seek out a professional for further guidance on how to best help your child.
blueFire can help your child
blueFire Wilderness is a wilderness therapy program for struggling teens, ages 11 to 17. We offer therapy for depression, bullying, anxiety, ADHD, and other emotional or behavioral problems. At blueFire, we strive to help each client find their inner confidence and succeed.
For more information about teen depression treatment at blueFire Wilderness, please call 1 (844) 413-1999 today.