Nuts
Screw loose
Freak
Crazy
Loony
Psycho
Weird
These are the words that occurred most when researchers polled 472 fourteen-year-old students and asked them to describe a person with a mental health issue. A total of 250 words were provided, including gems like fruit-cake and window-licker, but those 7 words were the most common, appearing 114 times. This study proved that the stigma attached to mental health issues is alive and well in the minds of teenagers. And I’m not ok with that.
The Stress on Teenagers Today
It is no wonder that teenagers are reluctant to seek help when they find themselves struggling with depression, stress, or anxiety. Would you want to confide in your friend and risk being called a window licker? Or have them betray your trust and post your emotional struggles on Snapchat or Instagram? Or have your parents write off your struggles as typical teenage problems?
Teens today face new challenges largely brought about by technology. They are the first generation to grow up with cyber-bullying, in which anyone in the world can talk about them maliciously with the bravado that a keyboard seems to give some people. They are the first generation where videos and photos can be taken without their knowledge and shared for the world to see in a matter of seconds. (I am so glad I didn’t grow up in a time in which my poor decisions could be captured and possibly used to harm my future.) And they are the first generation for the news of the world to be delivered directly into their consciousness without an adult nearby to explain or help calm their fears. And finally, they are the first generation where there is a real possibility of violence at the very place that is supposed to be a safe haven for learning.
Add in the “regular” sources of teenage angst like hormones, changing bodies, dating, and peer-pressure, and life becomes extremely stressful and confusing. Some teens have unhappy home lives, others feel the pressure of deciding what to do with the rest of their lives when they are barely finished being children. Many balance school, clubs, sports, and work while trying to be “perfect” or “the best” at everything they do. We adults joke about how adulting is hard, but teen-agering is even harder because they do not have the emotional tools or the control over their lives and decisions, to handle all of what is thrown at them.
Rising suicide rates among teens are proof that those of us in the mental health profession have a chance to reach teens, to help blast away the stigma of mental health and those ugly, hateful descriptions, and reach kids before they harm themselves. In order to help parents and teens right here in the Lisle and Naperville area, and because this is such an important topic, we are partnering with the Alive Center for their upcoming Walk 4 Life. This event is on Sunday, September 29, and the entire Forward Emotion team and I will be there to help raise mental health and suicide awareness.
About The Alive Center
The Alive Center, located in Naperville, Illinois, is a teen-led center that offers tutoring, mentoring, clubs, and life-skills classes in a variety of areas. Their focus is on educational but fun topics like creative writing, dance, art, nutrition, and cooking. The calendar is full of interesting programs for teenagers, like STEM labs, Fitness Fridays, Dungeons and Dragons games, tailgating events, and more. I gotta tell you – I wish I could participate in some of these things myself– or that we had this type of place when I was that age!
About The Walk 4 Life
Alive Center Walk 4 LIfe
The Walk 4 Life is a teen-led event to promote suicide prevention and mental health awareness. Naperville teen Angela Adamo created the event that is now in its second year. The one-mile walk goes through downtown Naperville and includes a post-walk event with music, food trucks, education, speakers and sponsors. The goal is to be both educational and fun and to let teenagers and their families know about local mental health resources.
Sabrina, Erica and I will all be there to talk about the services that we offer and how to reach us. Sabrina works with both teens and adults, and Erica and I work with parents who need support or guidance. This event is a great way for teens to meet Sabrina in person so that the idea of getting help is less scary, and they can see that we are everyday people who are there to help and listen without judgment. Instead of being the mysterious doctor with the notepad and the chaise sofa like we talked about in our very first blog, they can put a name and a face together before we even start to work together. We will also be offering art activities as a way to let people know about art as a healing modality, whether they work with me through art therapy, or create art on their own through journals or projects.
To sign up for the Walk 4 Life or to read more, you can click on this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walk-4-life-tickets-65041006401. Although this event is teen-led for teens, adults are welcome, and we hope to see you there. Stop by the Forward Emotion booth and say hello and check out our art activities while you’re there.
