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In the US there is a rising amount of people who are experiencing a "mental health crisis." Majority of the people saying they are experiencing a mental health crisis, are kids and teens. In the year 2020 the ER visits, related to mental health, raised by 31% among adolescents between the ages 12 and 17. More than 1 in 5 adults in the US describe their mental health to be somewhere between "fair" and "poor." It was very common for adults to be receiving mental help within the last year. According to a CDC survey, nearly 1 in 4 young adults in the US have been treated for their mental health during the pandemic.

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90% of US adults say the United States is experiencing a mental health crisis, CNN/KFF poll finds | CNN

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An overwhelming majority of people in the United States think the country is experiencing a mental health crisis, according to a new survey from CNN in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation.

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Bright lights, big cities and mental health 

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Bright lights, big cities and mental health 

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This mental health article is about people stressing about big cities and increasing urbanization. People who live in city apartments sometimes don't get enough sleep because of bright lights and noise in the big cities. Covid caused many people to be sad and lonely. Which impacted their mental health because they had to social distance from one another. Sixteen million people had to move because of Covid-19. That can create a lot of stress for those people. Mental health is a huge thing for yourself and it's very important. Why do you think so many people were afraid to be alone at this time?

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The world's population is becoming increasingly urbanized, which brings new considerations for the effects of urbanicity on physical and mental health. Despite the complexity, there is a tremendous opportunity for research to use new tools to examine the reciprocal relationship between mental health and urban environments to improve outcomes and communities.

In the past few years, profound structural changes have occurred in the way that people around the world live and work. The COVID pandemic ushered in a new paradigm that challenged longstanding norms, particularly in developed countries. The rapid and unanticipated need for practicing social distancing while preserving access to services or business continuity produced a digital renaissance in healthcare and the workplace and reshaped industries. Previously unthinkable remote and hybrid working models have proven nearly impossible to reverse. The pandemic period has also been a time of establishing new patterns of how individuals negotiate the balance between their work and personal lives, the prioritization of physical and mental health, and the need to connect with physical surroundings through access to green and open spaces. These shifts have prompted wide contemplation of our interactions with built spaces versus nature more generally, and acquainted the public with contemporary fields of study such as human geography, or the way that human cultures, communities and economies are spatially oriented with the environment.

Movement has also been a major theme. In the USA, for example, about 16 million people moved residencese; 2 million of whom left large metropolitan areas for less densely populated areas, such as smaller cities and suburbs. Although the population distribution in urban areas in the USA has normalized since 2020, the effects of pandemic-related relocation and remote work trends are still keenly felt in many cities. Scenarios such as 'urban doom loops' in a handful of once-thriving metropolitan areas have become concerns, in which plummeting occupancy for commercial real estate has led to downstream consequences, including reduced tax revenue, business closures and deteriorating infrastructure. However, these may be exceptions as the global urban development outlook indicates that populations continue to become increasingly urbanized. At present, about half of the world's populations live in urban areas, a proportion expected to rise to about two-thirds by the year 2050.

In an increasingly urbanized world, urbanicity has become an increasingly important concept. Urbanicity is often used to refer to the constellation of characteristics and attributes of urban areas and the effects on the people who live there, such as population density, public infrastructure and socioeconomic conditions. Considering urbanicity in relation to health highlights other salient elements including interactions with social and physical environments, access to health-related and social services, and the qualitative effects on individuals, communities and populations living in an urban center.

The effect of urbanicity may bear substantially on mental health. Much of the work exploring the potential links between living in an urban area and increased risk for the experience of a mental health condition has focused on psychosis or schizophrenia and symptoms of anxiety and depression. The relationship between specific factors of urbanicity and mental health risk, however, is not well understood owing to the potential complexity. For example, negative aspects of urbanicity, such as urban stress or exposure to pollution, may confer risks, but positive aspects of urbanicity, such as greater access to healthcare and resources, may mitigate the risks associated with mental health conditions.

This issue of Nature Mental Health explores some of the themes inherent to urbanicity and mental health. In a Comment by Gunter Schumann on behalf of environMENTAL consortium, the potential for applying large datasets and statistical techniques to investigate urbanicity and mental health are explored. By harnessing newly developed environmental data sources, such as movement tracking and geopositioning, researchers can incorporate and enrich existing health measures from large population-based cohorts such as the UK Biobank with high-dimensional effects of urbanicity.

A potential area of interest within urbanicity is the way in which light, both artificial and natural, is a central part of one's physical environment. Light is fundamentally connected to health and can be a mechanism for improving equity. For example, although light pollution, specifically bright artificial light emanating from cities, can be an issue that affects sleep quality, well-designed urban lighting can be instrumental for improving safety in outdoor spaces. Furthermore, how and when we interact with light may be crucial. The human circadian rhythm is primarily regulated by light, and circadian rhythm and sleep disturbances are features common to many mental health disorders, but our understanding of the influence of timing of light exposure on mental health is limited.

In the issue, an Article by Burns et al. reports the largest cross-sectional analysis so far looking at light, sleep, physical activity and mental health outcomes. The authors tracked day and night light exposure and health metrics in 86,722 participants from the UK Biobank. The findings suggest an inverse pattern: greater light exposure at night was associated with an increased risk of several psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and psychosis, whereas greater light exposure during the day was associated with a reduced risk of this same group of disorders. The authors suggest that the findings support the notion of using light as a potential non-pharmacological intervention for improving mental health. In an accompanying News & Views, Jamie M. Zeitzer proposes potential refinements and considerations to overcome some of the present limitations in studying the effects of environmental lighting on mental health.

Light is just one aspect of the many environmental conditions and features of urbanicity whose effect on mental health may have been underestimated. Broadening the view of how mental health is intricately connected to our interactions with the physical world is the beginning of an exciting path in multidisciplinary research. Within the portfolio of the Nature Research journals, we are at the outset of a period of launching thematic research journals dedicated to publishing work that may transcend traditional fields and find synergies between them, such as with mental health and urban environments.

One of the newest additions is Nature Cities, a transformative, monthly, online-only journal, which will launch in January 2024. As William Burnside, chief editor of Nature Cities, underscores, "Cities and mental health have a reciprocal relationship, with urban environments affecting the mental health of urban residents whose behavior then affects their urban environments. Illuminating these relationships is essential to understanding cities holistically. Nature Cities welcomes submissions of research and opinion that foregrounds the urban in considering mental health, such as studies considering urban density, segregation, sprawl, crime, pollution, public services, and greenspaces." By expanding the number of high-quality outlets for research that seeks to understand the trends, interactions and mechanisms that underlie human activity in urban environments, our intention is to provide more opportunities for researchers to share their insights and connect with each other. We hope that you will join us in being part of a community that is passionate about improving mental health and eager to create healthier, sustainable cities.

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Bright lights, big cities and mental health - Nature Mental Health

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The world's population is becoming increasingly urbanized, which brings new considerations for the effects of urbanicity on physical and mental health. Despite the complexity, there is a tremendous opportunity for research to use new tools to examine the reciprocal relationship between mental health and urban environments to improve outcomes and communities.

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Covid-19 impacted peoples health in the US. People made door Doordash, Grubhub, Uber eats. All so people can get the fast food that they are craving. They think it's not that bad for you. But fast food is the worst option of food for the body. With all the grease and fat that comes with fast food and the calories is terrible for your body. Like one big mac has a quarter of an average teens calorie intake. Covid-19 also impacted peoples stress levels a lot. and made people really stressed about little things like running out of TP. Do you think Covid-19 impacted your mental heath?

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90% of US adults say the United States is experiencing a mental health crisis, CNN/KFF poll finds | CNN

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An overwhelming majority of people in the United States think the country is experiencing a mental health crisis, according to a new survey from CNN in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation.

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teens with good mental health is less common now than it was 20 years ago. teens in this time often struggle with anxiety, depression, self harm, thoughts of suicide or suicide itself. there is so many things. the use of nicotine and marijuana has also risen. social media has been a big cause of that. if you think about it, 20 years ago there really was no social media, there was always a way to get away from the hurtful things people say, the hurtful things people do, peoples thoughts. as soon as more social media apps starterd coming out is when we realized the mental health decreasing. when covid 19 hit, the use of drugs, and depression had lowered a little bit. now that there is no longer a huge pandemic the rates are rising again. teens are doing drugs, having anxiety and depression, self harming, and commiting suicide. people are calling this the "mental health crisis". this article talks about how this things arise, and makes people more aware of these issues. what are some ways that we can try to decrease these rates?

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‘It’s Life or Death’: The Mental Health Crisis Among U.S. Teens (Published 2022)

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Depression, self-harm and suicide are rising among American adolescents. For one 13-year-old, the despair was almost too much to take.

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Depression is a serious stress that is created in the brain due to them feeling like things never go there way or that no one likes them but often it is simpler things such as just stress in school and home life. Studies show that 27 percent of people that have serious depression have a unstable or bad homelife that often causes stress. People often suffer from seasonal depression also because days are shorter and rain and snow can be depressing. There are warning signs you can watch for in someone who may be depressed like suicide threats, obsession over death, and change in eating patterns. 5,000 adolescents die from suicide each year. How do you think we can stop this?

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It's not unusual for young people to experience "the blues" or feel "down in the dumps" occasionally. Adolescence is always an unsettling time, with the many physical, emotional, psychological and social changes that accompany this stage of life.

Unrealistic academic, social, or family expectations can create a strong sense of rejection and can lead to deep disappointment. When things go wrong at school or at home, teens often overreact. Many young people feel that life is not fair or that things "never go their way." They feel "stressed out" and confused. To make matters worse, teens are bombarded by conflicting messages from parents, friends and society. Today's teens see more of what life has to offer - both good and bad - on television, at school, in magazines and on the Internet. They are also forced to learn about the threat of AIDS, even if they are not sexually active or using drugs.

Teens need adult guidance more than ever to understand all the emotional and physical changes they are experiencing. When teens' moods disrupt their ability to function on a day-to-day basis, it may indicate a serious emotional or mental disorder that needs attention - adolescent depression. Parents or caregivers must take action.

Dealing With Adolescent Pressures

When teens feel down, there are ways they can cope with these feelings to avoid serious depression. All of these suggestions help develop a sense of acceptance and belonging that is so important to adolescents.

Try to make new friends. Healthy relationships with peers are central to teens' self-esteem and provide an important social outlet.

Participate in sports, job, school activities or hobbies. Staying busy helps teens focus on positive activities rather than negative feelings or behaviors.

Join organizations that offer programs for young people. Special programs geared to the needs of adolescents help develop additional interests.

Ask a trusted adult for help. When problems are too much to handle alone, teens should not be afraid to ask for help.

But sometimes, despite everyone's best efforts, teens become depressed. Many factors can contribute to depression. Studies show that some depressed people have too much or too little of certain brain chemicals. Also, a family history of depression may increase the risk for developing depression. Other factors that can contribute to depression are difficult life events (such as death or divorce), side-effects from some medications and negative thought patterns.

Recognizing Adolescent Depression

Adolescent depression is increasing at an alarming rate. Recent surveys indicate that as many as one in five teens suffers from clinical depression. This is a serious problem that calls for prompt, appropriate treatment. Depression can take several forms, including bipolar disorder (formally called manic-depression), which is a condition that alternates between periods of euphoria and depression.

Depression can be difficult to diagnose in teens because adults may expect teens to act moody. Also, adolescents do not always understand or express their feelings very well. They may not be aware of the symptoms of depression and may not seek help.

These symptoms may indicate depression, particularly when they last for more than two weeks:

A quick, easy and confidential way to determine if you may be experiencing depression is to take a mental health screening. A screening is not a diagnosis, but a way of understanding if your symptoms are having enough of an impact that you should seek help from a doctor or other professional. Visit www.mhascreening.org to take a depression screening.

Teens may experiment with drugs or alcohol or become sexually promiscuous to avoid feelings of depression. Teens also may express their depression through hostile, aggressive, risk-taking behavior. But such behaviors only lead to new problems, deeper levels of depression and destroyed relationships with friends, family, law enforcement or school officials.

Treating Adolescent Depression
It is extremely important that depressed teens receive prompt, professional treatment.
Depression is serious and, if left untreated, can worsen to the point of becoming life-threatening. If depressed teens refuse treatment, it may be necessary for family members or other concerned adults to seek professional advice.

Therapy can help teens understand why they are depressed and learn how to cope with stressful situations. Depending on the situation, treatment may consist of individual, group or family counseling. Medications that can be prescribed by a psychiatrist may be necessary to help teens feel better.

Some of the most common and effective ways to treat depression in adolescents are:

When depressed adolescents recognize the need for help, they have taken a major step toward recovery. However, remember that few adolescents seek help on their own. They may need encouragement from their friends and support from concerned adults to seek help and follow treatment recommendations.

Facing the Danger Of Teen Suicide

Sometimes teens feel so depressed that they consider ending their lives. Each year, almost 5,000 young people, ages 15 to 24, kill themselves. The rate of suicide for this age group has nearly tripled since 1960, making it the third leading cause of death in adolescents and the second leading cause of death among college-age youth.

Studies show that suicide attempts among young people may be based on long-standing problems triggered by a specific event. Suicidal adolescents may view a temporary situation as a permanent condition. Feelings of anger and resentment combined with exaggerated guilt can lead to impulsive, self-destructive acts.

Recognizing the Warning Signs

Four out of five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warnings. Pay attention to these warning signs:

REMEMBER!!! These warning signs should be taken seriously. Obtain help immediately. Caring and support can save a young life.

Helping Suicidal Teens

Offer help and listen. Encourage depressed teens to talk about their feelings. Listen, don't lecture.

Trust your instincts. If it seems that the situation may be serious, seek prompt help. Break a confidence if necessary, in order to save a life.

Pay attention to talk about suicide. Ask direct questions and don't be afraid of frank discussions. Silence is deadly!

Seek professional help. It is essential to seek expert advice from a mental health professional who has experience helping depressed teens. Also, alert key adults in the teen's life - family, friends and teachers.

Looking To The Future

When adolescents are depressed, they have a tough time believing that their outlook can improve. But professional treatment can have a dramatic impact on their lives. It can put them back on track and bring them hope for the future.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).
Other Resources

The Boys Town National Hotline. (800)-448-3000.

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
3615 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016-3007
Phone Number: (202) 966-7300
Email Address: clinical@aacap.org
Website URL: www.aacap.org

American Association of Suicidology
4201 Connecticut Avenue NW; Suite 310
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 202-237-2280

Suicide Awareness/Voices of Prevention
The Jed Foundation. Suicide prevention for college students.

Covenant House. Resources for homeless and at-risk children.

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It's not unusual for young people to experience "the blues" or feel "down in the dumps" occasionally. Adolescence is always an unsettling time, with the many physical, emotional, psychological and social changes that accompany this stage of life. Unrealistic academic, social, or family expectations can create a strong sense of rejection and can lead to deep disappointment.

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Bipolar is a mental disease in which a person can experience dramatic mood swings. The most common age affected by the disorder is 25 but teens and people older can be affected by it as well. The symptoms can vary some people might have manic or depressed states and their mood can change in a instant. Behavior can be unpredictable and critic at times. It can be hard to get out of bed or some people can have trouble falling asleep. their are many causes to the disease some include genetics, stress and brain structure and function.

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Bipolar disorder | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

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Discover the symptoms, causes, diagnosis advice, treatment options and related conditions of Bipolar disorder.

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Worldwide 13% of people ages 10 to 19 are diagnosed with mental health disorders. Mental health is highly complex and understudied. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health disorders among young people. Worldwide suicide is the fourth most-common cause of death. Psychological distress sadly seems to be rising for young people. What could you do to help these people with mental health disorders.

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The COVID-19 pandemic, a UNICEF report and a review of the latest research all highlight the urgent need for better prevention and treatment of youth anxiety and depression.

Worldwide, at least 13% of people between the ages of 10 and 19 live with a diagnosed mental-health disorder, according to the latest State of the World's Children report, published this week by the United Nations children's charity UNICEF. It's the first time in the organization's history that this flagship report has tackled the challenges in and opportunities for preventing and treating mental-health problems among young people. It reveals that adolescent mental health is highly complex, understudied - and underfunded. These findings are echoed in a parallel collection of review articles published this week in a number of Springer Nature journals.

Anxiety and depression constitute more than 40% of mental-health disorders among young people (those aged 10-19). UNICEF also reports that, worldwide, suicide is the fourth most-common cause of death (after road injuries, tuberculosis and interpersonal violence) among adolescents (aged 15-19). In eastern Europe and central Asia, suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in that age group - and it's the second-highest cause in western Europe and North America.

Sadly, psychological distress among young people seems to be rising. One study found that rates of depression among a nationally representative sample of US adolescents (aged 12 to 17) increased from 8.5% of young adults to 13.2% between 2005 and 2017. There's also initial evidence that the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating this trend in some countries. For example, in a nationwide study from Iceland, adolescents (aged 13-18) reported significantly more symptoms of mental ill health during the pandemic than did their peers before it. And girls were more likely to experience these symptoms than were boys.

Although most mental-health disorders arise during adolescence, UNICEF says that only one-third of investment in mental-health research is targeted towards young people. Moreover, the research itself suffers from fragmentation - scientists involved tend to work inside some key disciplines, such as psychiatry, paediatrics, psychology and epidemiology, and the links between research and health-care services are often poor. This means that effective forms of prevention and treatment are limited, and lack a solid understanding of what works, in which context and why.

This week's collection of review articles dives deep into the state of knowledge of interventions - those that work and those that don't - for preventing and treating anxiety and depression in young people aged 14-24. In some of the projects, young people with lived experience of anxiety and depression were co-investigators, involved in both the design and implementation of the reviews, as well as in interpretation of the findings.

Quest for new therapies

Worldwide, the most common treatment for anxiety and depression is a class of drug called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which increase serotonin levels in the brain and are intended to enhance emotion and mood. But their modest efficacy and substantial side effects have spurred the study of alternative physiological mechanisms that could be involved in youth depression and anxiety, so that new therapeutics can be developed.

For example, researchers have been investigating potential links between depression and inflammatory disorders - such as asthma, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory bowel disease. This is because, in many cases, adults with depression also experience such disorders. Moreover, there's evidence that, in mice, changes to the gut microbiota during development reduce behaviours similar to those linked to anxiety and depression in people. That suggests that targeting the gut microbiome during adolescence could be a promising avenue for reducing anxiety in young people. Kathrin Cohen Kadosh at the University of Surrey in Guildford, UK, and colleagues reviewed existing reports of interventions in which diets were changed to target the gut microbiome. These were found to have had minimal effect on youth anxiety. However, the authors urge caution before such a conclusion can be confirmed, citing methodological limitations (including small sample sizes) among the studies they reviewed. They say the next crop of studies will need to involve larger-scale clinical trials.

By contrast, researchers have found that improving young people's cognitive and interpersonal skills can be more effective in preventing and treating anxiety and depression under certain circumstances - although the reason for this is not known. For instance, a concept known as 'decentring' or 'psychological distancing' (that is, encouraging a person to adopt an objective perspective on negative thoughts and feelings) can help both to prevent and to alleviate depression and anxiety, report Marc Bennett at the University of Cambridge, UK, and colleagues, although the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are unclear.

In addition, Alexander Daros at the Campbell Family Mental Health Institute in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues report a meta-analysis of 90 randomized controlled trials. They found that helping young people to improve their emotion-regulation skills, which are needed to control emotional responses to difficult situations, enables them to cope better with anxiety and depression. However, it is still unclear whether better regulation of emotions is the cause or the effect of these improvements.

Co-production is essential

It's uncommon - but increasingly seen as essential - that researchers working on treatments and interventions are directly involving young people who've experienced mental ill health. These young people need to be involved in all aspects of the research process, from conceptualizing to and designing a study, to conducting it and interpreting the results. Such an approach will lead to more-useful science, and will lessen the risk of developing irrelevant or inappropriate interventions.

Science careers and mental health

Two such young people are co-authors in a review from Karolin Krause at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues. The review explored whether training in problem solving helps to alleviate depressive symptoms. The two youth partners, in turn, convened a panel of 12 other youth advisers, and together they provided input on shaping how the review of the evidence was carried out and on interpreting and contextualizing the findings. The study concluded that, although problem-solving training could help with personal challenges when combined with other treatments, it doesn't on its own measurably reduce depressive symptoms.

The overarching message that emerges from these reviews is that there is no 'silver bullet' for preventing and treating anxiety and depression in young people - rather, prevention and treatment will need to rely on a combination of interventions that take into account individual needs and circumstances. Higher-quality evidence is also needed, such as large-scale trials using established protocols.

Along with the UNICEF report, the studies underscore the transformational part that funders must urgently play, and why researchers, clinicians and communities must work together on more studies that genuinely involve young people as co-investigators. Together, we can all do better to create a brighter, healthier future for a generation of young people facing more challenges than ever before.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02690-5

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Young people's mental health is finally getting the attention it needs

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The COVID-19 pandemic, a UNICEF report and a review of the latest research all highlight the urgent need for better prevention and treatment of youth anxiety and depression. The COVID-19 pandemic, a UNICEF report and a review of the latest research all highlight the urgent need for better prevention and treatment of youth anxiety and depression.

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Mental health is a physical illness of the brain. It can cause problems in your thinking, behaviour, energy and mood. the two most common mental health conditions are Anxiety Disorder and Mood Disorder. Some anxiety disorders are PTSD, OCD, Panic disorder and certain phobias. Some mood disorders are depression and bipolar depression. Some things you can do is show others respect and acceptance. Only half of people who have a mental illness actually get treatment. Mental illness affects 19% of adults, 46% of teenagers and 13% of children. Untreated mental illness leads to a worst performance in school and work, and an increased risk of suicide. Mental illness is very powerful and affects almost 44 million american adults every year. Why do you think so many people don't get treatment for their mental illness?

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The Importance of Mental Health Awareness - Pine Rest Newsroom

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Mental illnesses affect 19% of the adult population, 46% of teenagers and 13% of children each year. People struggling with their mental health may be in your

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How necessary is it to limit caffeine intake for teenagers, and what potential health implications are associated with excessive consumption? What are the primary reasons for advocating caffeine restrictions for adolescents, and how can guardians ensure their children adhere to these guidelines? In what ways can educational institutions and healthcare professionals collaborate to raise awareness about the importance of moderating caffeine intake among teens and promoting healthier alternatives? 1. Get Prepared Wisely

Make sure you're ready

Discuss the matter

Set a good example

Reduce caffeine intake in the afternoon and evening

Recognize the signs of trouble

Support your teenager in reducing caffeine consumption

2. Plan Ahead Effectively

Equip yourself with knowledge

Engage in conversations about the topic

Lead by being a positive influence

Control caffeine intake in the afternoon and evening

Recognize the red flags

Assist your teen in cutting back on caffeine 3. Be Prepared Strategically

Arm yourself with information

Have open discussions about the issue

Set a good example for others

Restrict caffeine consumption in the afternoon and evening

Recognize the warning signs

Support your teenager in reducing caffeine intake

made by: Grasyn hassall

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From coffee and tea to energy drinks, caffeine is easy to find. Teens often reach for these drinks before a sports event or a long study session. And while it's true that caffeine may give them an energy boost or help them focus, drinking too much of it could be bad for their health.

This article discusses the short and long-term health effects that caffeine can have on teens. It includes the signs you should know that your teen drank too much caffeine and ways you can limit their intake.

What Is Caffeine?

Caffeine comes from natural sources. It's in coffee beans, cacao (where chocolate comes from), tea leaves, and more. Manmade forms are also added to certain foods and drinks.

Caffeine is a type of drug known as a stimulant. This means that it excites the central nervous system, making the person who drinks it more alert. Many people find that caffeine gives them a temporary energy boost and can even brighten their mood.

An estimated 80% of people worldwide consume caffeinated products every day. This includes roughly 73% of children. Fewer teens are drinking soda compared to a decade ago. However, teens are still drinking plenty of caffeine, turning to coffee and energy drinks instead.

Side Effects

Research shows that small doses of caffeine can:

Enhance your mood

Make you more alert

Help you process information faster

Boost your awareness

Help you focus

Speed up your reaction time

That said, most of the research has focused on adults, not children. And not all research on caffeine shows positive side effects either.

Caffeine can cause a number of unwanted side effects in both teens and adults. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others. For these more sensitive people, just a small amount of caffeine may produce unwanted effects.

Multiple studies have shown many unwanted side effects of caffeine including:

Restlessness

Nervousness

Flushed face

Diuresis (increased urination)

Upset stomach

Muscle twitching

Rambling speech and thoughts

Tachycardia or cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythms)

Pacing, tapping toes, pulling at clothes, and other forms of psychomotor agitation

The effects of caffeine can start within a few minutes after you consume it. This drug has a half-life of around five to six hours. In other words, after you consume it, it takes five to six hours for there to be half as much caffeine in your blood.

Recap

Health Consequences

Adolescence is a vital time for brain development. The brain has the most neural connections ( synapses) during these years, and they will keep maturing well into your mid-twenties.

Research shows that drinking caffeine from a young age can stunt brain development. That's because caffeine can make these growing connections less efficient and stop them from forming.

Caffeine triggers pleasure circuits in the brain's reward system. It gives your brain a burst of dopamine (the happy hormone). This is the same process that leads to drug addiction.

It is thought that caffeine's effect on the brain's reward and addiction center may influence a child's food and drink preferences later in life.

Here are a few other ways that caffeine can impact teens and adolescents:

Caffeine takes a major toll on a teen's sleep. Every 10mg of caffeine a 13-year-old boy consumes cuts his chances of getting 8.5 hours of sleep by 12%. Sleep deprivation (lack of sleep) in teens can affect their education, mental health, and physical health.

Caffeine may also cause the body to lose calcium. Consuming too much caffeine could lead to bone loss over time. Additionally, soft drink consumption has been linked to a higher incident of fractures, Drinking soda or energy drinks instead of milk can also raise a teen's risk of osteoporosis down the line.

Caffeine may worsen underlying health issues, like heart problems. It can also interact with certain medicines or supplements.

Recap

Gender Differences

Researchers have found that caffeine affects children of any sex the same prior to puberty. Once puberty passes, caffeine starts to affect males and females in different ways.

Overall, teen boys show a greater response to caffeine than teen girls. Girls are more likely to have a slower heart rate than boys after being given caffeine. Meanwhile, girls are more likely to have increased diastolic blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure is the bottom number in a blood pressure reading. It stands for the amount of pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.

Caffeine Dependence in Teens

Many people report feeling "addicted" to caffeine. They may have trouble quitting or cutting back on their caffeine intake. Some people continue consuming it even though they experience unwanted side effects.

Regular caffeine drinkers may have symptoms of withdrawal when they stop consuming it. Researchers have found that children and teens may go through withdrawal after they've cut out caffeine as well.

Withdrawal symptoms vary in severity. Common withdrawal symptoms include:

Headache

Fatigue

Sleepiness

Trouble concentrating

Difficulty completing tasks

Irritability

Depression

Anxiety

Flu-like symptoms (nausea/vomiting, muscles aches, hot and cold spells)

Impaired psychomotor and cognitive performance

Common Sources

Here are some of the most common sources of caffeine that appeal to teens:

Peach Snapple: 42mg (16 ounces)

Monster Energy Drink: 160mg (16 ounces)

Starbucks Frappuccino: 115mg (9.5 ounces)

Mountain Dew: 55mg (12 ounces)

Instant coffee: 31mg (1 tsp)

Brewed coffee: 95-200mg (8 ounces)

Iced tea: 70mg (12 ounces)

Most people know that coffee and certain soft drinks contain caffeine. But there are also some less obvious caffeine sources that parents and teens should know of, such as:

Dark chocolate: 18mg (1.45 ounces)

Clif Bar Peanut Toffee Buzz: 50mg (2.4 ounces)

Hot chocolate: 3-13mg (8 ounces)

Dannon All-Natural coffee yogurt: 30mg (6 ounces)

Vitamin Water Energy: 50mg (20 ounces)

Recap

Should Teens Consume Energy Drinks?

The American Academy of Pediatrics has taken a clear stance on energy drinks: They have no place in the diets of children and adolescents.

Some parents confuse energy drinks with sports drinks. Many teens mistake energy drinks as being healthier than soda too.

It doesn't help that energy drinks are often marketed to youth. Companies that make these drinks often sponsor sports events that appeal to teens. Such events make it seem that energy drinks are a good choice for young athletes to drink.

Energy drinks contain other substances that can be unhealthy for teens. Some contain guarana, which comes from a plant found in South America. Although it contains caffeine, it's not often thought of as a caffeinated product.

Energy drinks can also contain amino acids, vitamins, and additives. The effects of these substances are largely unknown.

Overdose and Toxicity

Many teens and young adults have overdosed on caffeine. In 2009 alone, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported more than 13,000 emergency room visits related to energy drinks.

Between 2007 and 2011, the number of energy drink-related visits to emergency departments doubled. In 2011, one in 10 of these visits resulted in hospitalization.

Caffeine toxicity can be fatal. Logan Stiner, a high school student from Ohio, had a cardiac arrhythmia and a seizure after using powdered caffeine. Doctors learned he took more than a teaspoon of the powder. This was 16 times the recommended dose.

Caffeine powder is usually sold as a dietary supplement, so the FDA does not regulate it. It can easily be bought on the internet.

Several other deaths have been linked to caffeine overdose. An investigation by in 2012 found at least 13 deaths linked to energy drinks.

Recap

Limiting Caffeine for Teens

You can't control all the things your teen chooses to eat and drink when you're not around. But, you can teach them healthy habits and limit their caffeine intake. Here are some steps you can take to protect your teen from the dangers of caffeine:

Stock up Smartly

Don't stock the fridge with soft drinks. Don't buy teas, energy drinks, and other beverages with a lot of caffeine. Try to make it a habit for your family to drink water and low-fat milk instead.

Educate Yourself

Nutrition labels don't list how much caffeine a product has. If you find that your teen is drinking caffeine, do a quick internet search for the product's ingredient list. This list will show how many milligrams are in the product.

Talk About It

Many caffeinated drinks contain a lot of sugar, which can contribute to obesity and tooth decay. So limiting caffeine could be better for your teen's overall health. Make sure your teen knows that energy drinks and sugary teas aren't good for them.

Talk to your teen about the dangers of caffeine in the same way you talk about drugs or alcohol. Warn your teen that too much caffeine could cause serious health problems.

Be a Good Role Model

If you turn to coffee to help you function, or you down an energy drink before you head out for a night on the town, your teen may grow to think stimulants are a normal part of adult life. And that could lead them to develop bad habits.

Limit Afternoon and Evening Caffeine

Drinking a Frappuccino after school or a soda after basketball practice could keep your teen up half the night. If they are going to have caffeine, make sure it's early in the day.

Know the Warning Signs

Look out for signs that your teen is consuming a lot of caffeine. If your teen is jittery or not sleeping well, look into what they have been eating and drinking.

Help Your Teen Cut Back

If your teen regularly consumes more caffeine than they should, help them to cut back. Be aware they may have some unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly quit caffeine altogether.

Recap

Caffeine is easy for teens to get ahold of. It's in coffee, tea, energy drinks, chocolate, and even protein bars. It's also sold online in powdered form, where it is often marketed as a supplement.

Caffeine overdose is a real risk for people of all ages. Educate your teen about the dangers of caffeine and be a good role model for them. Make sure your family knows the risks that caffeine poses, and the signs they have had too much.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can caffeine stunt a teenager's growth?

Though caffeine affects calcium absorption, studies have not found evidence that it stunts bone growth. Lack of sleep due to caffeine has not been found to affect growth either.

How much caffeine per day is OK for a teenager?

Most children's health experts agree that kids between 12 and 18 years of age should not have more than 100mg of caffeine each day. That roughly amounts to:

One cup of coffee

One or two cups of tea (depending on how strong it is)

Two 12-ounce sodas

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Learn if You Should You Let Your Teenager Drink Caffeinated Drinks

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Teens may reach for energy drinks before a game or to turn to coffee to help them pull an all-night study session. See the effects on a teen's health.

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Depression is a common mood disorder and can be very serious... and can be managed with help. It is characterized by sadness and a lack of pleasure or interest in once-enjoyed activities. It comes in five different packages: Major depression(most common), persistent depressive disorder(which contains less severe symptoms that last for two years), perinatal depression which occurs after pregnancy, seasonal affective disorder, which happens during the fall and winter, and depression with symptoms of psychosis, a serious condition. What can YOU do to help cope with depression today?

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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Learn about depression, including types, signs and symptoms, risk factors, treatments and therapies, and things you can do to help during treatment.

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Worldwide, at least 13% of people between the ages of 10 and 19 live with a diagnosed mental health disorder, according to the latest states of the world children's report published this week by the United Nations children’s charity UNICEF. It’s the first time in the organization’s history that this flagship report has tackled the challenges and opportunities for preventing and treating mental health problems among young people. It reveals that adolescent mental health is highly complex, understudied — and underfunded. These findings are echoed in a parallel collection of review articles published this week in a number of Springer Nature journals.

Anxiety and depression constitute more than 40% of mental health disorders among young people (those aged 10–19). UNICEF also reports that, worldwide, suicide is the fourth most common cause of death (after road injuries, tuberculosis, and interpersonal violence) among adolescents (aged 15–19). In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in that age group — and it’s the second-highest cause in western. why do you think so many people have mental health problems.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The COVID-19 pandemic, a UNICEF report and a review of the latest research all highlight the urgent need for better prevention and treatment of youth anxiety and depression.

Worldwide, at least 13% of people between the ages of 10 and 19 live with a diagnosed mental-health disorder, according to the latest State of the World's Children report, published this week by the United Nations children's charity UNICEF. It's the first time in the organization's history that this flagship report has tackled the challenges in and opportunities for preventing and treating mental-health problems among young people. It reveals that adolescent mental health is highly complex, understudied - and underfunded. These findings are echoed in a parallel collection of review articles published this week in a number of Springer Nature journals.

Anxiety and depression constitute more than 40% of mental-health disorders among young people (those aged 10-19). UNICEF also reports that, worldwide, suicide is the fourth most-common cause of death (after road injuries, tuberculosis and interpersonal violence) among adolescents (aged 15-19). In eastern Europe and central Asia, suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in that age group - and it's the second-highest cause in western Europe and North America.

Sadly, psychological distress among young people seems to be rising. One study found that rates of depression among a nationally representative sample of US adolescents (aged 12 to 17) increased from 8.5% of young adults to 13.2% between 2005 and 2017. There's also initial evidence that the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating this trend in some countries. For example, in a nationwide study from Iceland, adolescents (aged 13-18) reported significantly more symptoms of mental ill health during the pandemic than did their peers before it. And girls were more likely to experience these symptoms than were boys.

Although most mental-health disorders arise during adolescence, UNICEF says that only one-third of investment in mental-health research is targeted towards young people. Moreover, the research itself suffers from fragmentation - scientists involved tend to work inside some key disciplines, such as psychiatry, paediatrics, psychology and epidemiology, and the links between research and health-care services are often poor. This means that effective forms of prevention and treatment are limited, and lack a solid understanding of what works, in which context and why.

This week's collection of review articles dives deep into the state of knowledge of interventions - those that work and those that don't - for preventing and treating anxiety and depression in young people aged 14-24. In some of the projects, young people with lived experience of anxiety and depression were co-investigators, involved in both the design and implementation of the reviews, as well as in interpretation of the findings.

Quest for new therapies

Worldwide, the most common treatment for anxiety and depression is a class of drug called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which increase serotonin levels in the brain and are intended to enhance emotion and mood. But their modest efficacy and substantial side effects have spurred the study of alternative physiological mechanisms that could be involved in youth depression and anxiety, so that new therapeutics can be developed.

For example, researchers have been investigating potential links between depression and inflammatory disorders - such as asthma, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory bowel disease. This is because, in many cases, adults with depression also experience such disorders. Moreover, there's evidence that, in mice, changes to the gut microbiota during development reduce behaviours similar to those linked to anxiety and depression in people. That suggests that targeting the gut microbiome during adolescence could be a promising avenue for reducing anxiety in young people. Kathrin Cohen Kadosh at the University of Surrey in Guildford, UK, and colleagues reviewed existing reports of interventions in which diets were changed to target the gut microbiome. These were found to have had minimal effect on youth anxiety. However, the authors urge caution before such a conclusion can be confirmed, citing methodological limitations (including small sample sizes) among the studies they reviewed. They say the next crop of studies will need to involve larger-scale clinical trials.

By contrast, researchers have found that improving young people's cognitive and interpersonal skills can be more effective in preventing and treating anxiety and depression under certain circumstances - although the reason for this is not known. For instance, a concept known as 'decentring' or 'psychological distancing' (that is, encouraging a person to adopt an objective perspective on negative thoughts and feelings) can help both to prevent and to alleviate depression and anxiety, report Marc Bennett at the University of Cambridge, UK, and colleagues, although the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are unclear.

In addition, Alexander Daros at the Campbell Family Mental Health Institute in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues report a meta-analysis of 90 randomized controlled trials. They found that helping young people to improve their emotion-regulation skills, which are needed to control emotional responses to difficult situations, enables them to cope better with anxiety and depression. However, it is still unclear whether better regulation of emotions is the cause or the effect of these improvements.

Co-production is essential

It's uncommon - but increasingly seen as essential - that researchers working on treatments and interventions are directly involving young people who've experienced mental ill health. These young people need to be involved in all aspects of the research process, from conceptualizing to and designing a study, to conducting it and interpreting the results. Such an approach will lead to more-useful science, and will lessen the risk of developing irrelevant or inappropriate interventions.

Science careers and mental health

Two such young people are co-authors in a review from Karolin Krause at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues. The review explored whether training in problem solving helps to alleviate depressive symptoms. The two youth partners, in turn, convened a panel of 12 other youth advisers, and together they provided input on shaping how the review of the evidence was carried out and on interpreting and contextualizing the findings. The study concluded that, although problem-solving training could help with personal challenges when combined with other treatments, it doesn't on its own measurably reduce depressive symptoms.

The overarching message that emerges from these reviews is that there is no 'silver bullet' for preventing and treating anxiety and depression in young people - rather, prevention and treatment will need to rely on a combination of interventions that take into account individual needs and circumstances. Higher-quality evidence is also needed, such as large-scale trials using established protocols.

Along with the UNICEF report, the studies underscore the transformational part that funders must urgently play, and why researchers, clinicians and communities must work together on more studies that genuinely involve young people as co-investigators. Together, we can all do better to create a brighter, healthier future for a generation of young people facing more challenges than ever before.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02690-5

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Young people's mental health is finally getting the attention it needs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The COVID-19 pandemic, a UNICEF report and a review of the latest research all highlight the urgent need for better prevention and treatment of youth anxiety and depression. The COVID-19 pandemic, a UNICEF report and a review of the latest research all highlight the urgent need for better prevention and treatment of youth anxiety and depression.

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Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has warned that social media is a big part of stress in your teenage years. the scientists want the platforms to share with the parents the toll these apps are taking on the kids of this generation.

19 of every 20 kids between the ages of 13 and 17 say that they use social media. Dr. Murthy says the company can help by enforcing stricter policies and age limits. Do you think that social media is changing the lives of children?

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Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, long a proponent of mental health awareness, has issued a warning that social media use is a main contributor to depression, anxiety and other problems in the nation's teenagers.

The report, released Tuesday, calls attention to growing concerns about the effects of social media use on children and adolescent's mental health. The advisory urges policymakers and the companies that make the social media platforms to share with parents the burden of managing children's and adolescents' social media use.

Murthy calls youth mental health "the defining public health issue of our time," urging policymakers to help ensure strong safety standards to help protect adolescents and teens from exposure to harmful content and excessive use.

Up to 95% of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 say they use a social media platform, according to the report. About a third say they're scrolling, posting or otherwise engaged with social media "almost constantly."

"At this point, we do not have enough evidence to say with confidence that social media is sufficiently safe for our kids, Murthy said in an interview. "We have to now take action to make sure that we are protecting our kids."

The report pulls together research that links social media use and poor mental health in adolescents, such as a 2019 study that found teens who spent more than three hours a day on social media "faced double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, including symptoms of depression and anxiety."

As of last year, students in grades eight and 10 who were surveyed said they spent even more time each day on these platforms: three hours and 30 minutes, on average.

Jim Steyer, founder of Common Sense Media, an organization that advocates for laws and policies to make media more child-friendly, said the advisory was "absolutely spot on" and "should be a clarion call to every parent in this country, every policymaker, that we need to put focus and resources into this effort."

The most popular social media platforms among teens are TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, according to the Pew Research Center.

The surgeon general's warning about social media comes as the rates of teenage depression, sadness and hopelessness have skyrocketed over the past decade, especially among girls.

" Teen depression started to rise around 2012, a time that coincides with the popularity of smartphones," said Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University and the author of "Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents-and What They Mean for America's Future."

It was also a time, Twenge said, that "'likes' on posts became common, and the algorithms started to become more sophisticated to keep people on social media for longer. That's clearly not a coincidence."

The surgeon general's report also blamed social media for perpetuating eating disorders, body dysmorphia and low self-esteem. Some evidence also suggests a possible link between excessive social media use and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in teens.

Twenge said social media can a ffect mental health in a variety of ways. Both sleep and face-to-face social interaction are beneficial to mental health, she said, but if kids are online when they should be in bed or spending time with friends, that's a problem.

Feeling left out and comparing oneself to others can also be damaging.

"Even if you know on an intellectual level that they may have taken 200 selfies to get the right one," Twenge said, "at an emotional level, that's not really processed."

What can be done?

The surgeon general's report outlines recommendations for both technology companies and lawmakers.

"Policymakers need to step up and help ensure that we have strong safety standards, to help protect our kids from exposure to harmful content, and to also protect them from excessive use," Murthy said. This includes enforcing age minimums.

Companies are advised to create better tools to protect teenagers, and loosen up on features that entice kids to stay online longer.

It's parents who are on the front lines now in trying to help teens navigate the online world. The report encourages caregivers to create "tech-free" zones in the home, and to talk with kids about how social media use makes them feel.

"It's really not fair to put the onus on parents alone. Why isn't the industry held responsible for creating the platforms and making the features that much more addictive?" Steyer of Common Sense Media said. "There has to be a major national discussion."

How old should kids be before using social media?

Most tech companies require users to be at least 13 years old. But nearly 40% of kids between the ages of 8 and 12 use social media, the report said.

Murthy said he believes even 13 is too young to be on social media but said there wasn't enough data to suggest which age would be appropriate.

Twenge suggested that the age minimum should be set at 16.

"Let's get some regulations in place now to help kids who are not yet on social media," Twenge said. "Maybe we can save the next generation."

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Social media is driving teen mental health crisis, surgeon general warns

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U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy blames social media for rising rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health struggles among teens and adolescents.

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ADHD can affect everybody in any setting.

It stands for, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Over 8.7 million people have ADHD in the U.S. It is caused mainly by stress and genetics. People manage it by limiting the amount of distractions when they try to get stuff done and focus. Like putting your phone away when you have to do your homework and sitting in the front of the class. Children with ADHD can have difficulty learning in school. They try to focus but their mind just wanders elsewhere. So they have to take time and learn in other ways. You can't physically see ADHD when someone has it so it is hard to tell if someone is going through it. From 2007 to 2016 ADHD has doubled in children. Why do you think this is?

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Ever since it was first diagnosed in the 1960s, ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) has been a controversial topic. Even experts often debate over how the disorder should be defined and what causes it.

While we don't completely understand what causes ADHD symptoms - difficulty regulating attention and emotions, hyperactivity, impulsivity - we do know that it's a neurodevelopmental disorder. That means that the brains of kids with ADHD develop differently from those of other kids. Researchers have started to identify the structural and chemical differences in the brain that may cause the symptoms associated with ADHD.

Many of the characteristics of ADHD are related to executive functioning. This refers to a set of mental skills that include working memory, emotional control, and complex problem-solving. Essentially, executive functions are the skills we all use to manage day-to-day tasks, such as time management, staying organized, and planning. While there are several different parts of the brain that contribute to executive functioning, the prefrontal cortex is especially important in regulating these skills.

Research has shown that in children with ADHD, the prefrontal cortex matures more slowly than typically developing kids. It is also slightly smaller in size. Similarly, the cerebellum, hippocampus, and amygdala are also thought to be smaller in volume in kids with ADHD.

Like every part of the brain, the cerebellum is involved in many different functions, but its role in the regulation of movement may be especially relevant to ADHD symptoms. A smaller cerebellum could contribute to difficulty with what's called "motor response inhibition," which refers to the ability to suppress actions that interfere with a current task, such as staying seated during a class lesson. Smaller hippocampus and amygdala sizes can cause impairment in the regulation of memory, emotion, and behavior, which is a common symptom of kids with ADHD.

While these regions of the brain may remain smaller in people with ADHD, studies have shown that they do continue to grow and mature as children get older. By adulthood, the difference in size when compared to individuals without the disorder has appeared to be less significant.

Another way to measure functionality in the brain is through activity and connectivity. Scientists use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure changes in brain activity through blood flow. When an area of the brain is active, the level of blood flow to that region increases. In people with ADHD, studies using fMRI technology have shown irregular activity in several regions of the brain involved in motor, cognitive, and emotional regulation.

There is a collective network of structures in the brain that is unusually active in children with ADHD. This is called the default mode network (DMN), and it was first discovered by accident when researchers noticed high levels of brain activity while their study participants were simply resting.

The DMN is a relatively new concept and there is still some debate over which parts of the brain may be involved. It is thought to be the most active when we let our minds wander. In neurotypical children, this network shows lower levels of activity while they're engaged in a task that requires paying attention, and higher levels of activity when they're awake but simply daydreaming or recalling a memory. In children with ADHD, the network still shows a high amount of activity during active tasks that require focused attention. This difference may explain why kids with ADHD struggle to focus or concentrate in the classroom.

The unusual DMN activity seen in people with ADHD may also be explained by what's called its "functional connectivity" to other networks in the brain. The concept of functional connectivity refers to the idea that certain areas in the brain are connected if their functional behaviors are frequently correlated with each other. This could be a positive or negative correlation. For instance, there is another network in the brain called the "task-performing network" that allows us to perform attention-demanding tasks. In terms of functional connectivity, the DMN normally has a negative correlation to this network. This means that the DMN is less active while the task-performing network is more active. In children with ADHD, the DMN is thought to have a reduced negative correlation with this network due to weakened connectivity. This means that it's more active than it's supposed to be, which can lead to lapses in attention during goal-oriented tasks. Therefore, the minds of children with ADHD may wander during a task that demands attention, like homework.

Studies have also discovered that in people with ADHD, there is an unusually high level of functional connectivity between the brain regions that form part of a mechanism called the "selective visual attention system." This system allows us to determine what's important to notice or pay attention to in the moment. Irregular connectivity within this system may cause children with ADHD to notice irrelevant things in their field of vision, making it hard to know what to focus on.

In addition to differences in structure and connectivity, chemical imbalances in the brain may also play a role in causing ADHD symptoms.

Serving as our control center, the brain needs to both send and receive electrical signals or "messages" throughout the body. The brain is able to do this via nerve cells (neurons). However, there are gaps between neurons. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that fill the gap and allow for messages to be passed along.

One very important neurotransmitter is dopamine, which has several functions. There are pathways in the brain that allow the transport of dopamine from one region to another to relay important information. There are four major dopamine pathways, and two of them are thought to contribute to the impairment of cognitive functioning we often see in kids with ADHD.

The first pathway is called the "dopamine reward pathway." When we experience something that's pleasurable such as eating tasty food, an increased amount of dopamine is released along this pathway and activates feelings of pleasure and euphoria. It is theorized that these feelings of pleasure are reinforced by the connection between a part of the brain that processes pleasure and the hippocampus, which plays an important role in memory. That is, we remember what food is associated with this feeling of pleasure and it motivates us to eat it again.

The second pathway, known as the "mesocortical pathway," connects an area of the brain that's rich in dopamine to the prefrontal cortex. Via the transmission of dopamine, this pathway helps the prefrontal cortex facilitate executive functions such as cognition, working memory, and decision-making.

In children with ADHD, these two pathways are thought to be disrupted, which can lead to impairment of cognitive and motivational functioning. Scientists believe that these disruptions could be due to an unusual number of dopamine transporters in the brains of people with ADHD. A dopamine transporter is a protein that is responsible for removing dopamine from the gap between neurons and terminating dopamine transmission. An increased number of these transporters can lead to unusually low amounts of dopamine in the brain. One piece of evidence for this theory is that stimulant medications such as Adderall are often successful in reducing ADHD symptoms, and these medications suppress the reuptake, or removal, of dopamine.

While we may not know the exact causes of ADHD symptoms, advances in research have given us a better understanding of the disorder. Identifying the structural and chemical differences in the brains of children with ADHD will not only validate their struggles but may also lead to significant improvements in treatment.

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How Is the ADHD Brain Different? - Child Mind Institute

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An in-depth look at the underlying causes of ADHD symptoms in children.

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More than 13% of people between the ages of 10-19 are diagnosed with a mental health disorder. And 40% of young people between the ages of 10-19 have anxiety and depression. The drug most commonly taken to treat anxiety and depression is called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. It is meant to increase serotonin levels in the brain and is intended to enhance emotion and mood. During the pandemic depression levels went up due to the lack of social interaction. So it there really something out that to make it so that a person can not have anxiety or depression?

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The COVID-19 pandemic, a UNICEF report and a review of the latest research all highlight the urgent need for better prevention and treatment of youth anxiety and depression.

Worldwide, at least 13% of people between the ages of 10 and 19 live with a diagnosed mental-health disorder, according to the latest State of the World's Children report, published this week by the United Nations children's charity UNICEF. It's the first time in the organization's history that this flagship report has tackled the challenges in and opportunities for preventing and treating mental-health problems among young people. It reveals that adolescent mental health is highly complex, understudied - and underfunded. These findings are echoed in a parallel collection of review articles published this week in a number of Springer Nature journals.

Anxiety and depression constitute more than 40% of mental-health disorders among young people (those aged 10-19). UNICEF also reports that, worldwide, suicide is the fourth most-common cause of death (after road injuries, tuberculosis and interpersonal violence) among adolescents (aged 15-19). In eastern Europe and central Asia, suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in that age group - and it's the second-highest cause in western Europe and North America.

Sadly, psychological distress among young people seems to be rising. One study found that rates of depression among a nationally representative sample of US adolescents (aged 12 to 17) increased from 8.5% of young adults to 13.2% between 2005 and 2017. There's also initial evidence that the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating this trend in some countries. For example, in a nationwide study from Iceland, adolescents (aged 13-18) reported significantly more symptoms of mental ill health during the pandemic than did their peers before it. And girls were more likely to experience these symptoms than were boys.

Although most mental-health disorders arise during adolescence, UNICEF says that only one-third of investment in mental-health research is targeted towards young people. Moreover, the research itself suffers from fragmentation - scientists involved tend to work inside some key disciplines, such as psychiatry, paediatrics, psychology and epidemiology, and the links between research and health-care services are often poor. This means that effective forms of prevention and treatment are limited, and lack a solid understanding of what works, in which context and why.

This week's collection of review articles dives deep into the state of knowledge of interventions - those that work and those that don't - for preventing and treating anxiety and depression in young people aged 14-24. In some of the projects, young people with lived experience of anxiety and depression were co-investigators, involved in both the design and implementation of the reviews, as well as in interpretation of the findings.

Quest for new therapies

Worldwide, the most common treatment for anxiety and depression is a class of drug called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which increase serotonin levels in the brain and are intended to enhance emotion and mood. But their modest efficacy and substantial side effects have spurred the study of alternative physiological mechanisms that could be involved in youth depression and anxiety, so that new therapeutics can be developed.

For example, researchers have been investigating potential links between depression and inflammatory disorders - such as asthma, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory bowel disease. This is because, in many cases, adults with depression also experience such disorders. Moreover, there's evidence that, in mice, changes to the gut microbiota during development reduce behaviours similar to those linked to anxiety and depression in people. That suggests that targeting the gut microbiome during adolescence could be a promising avenue for reducing anxiety in young people. Kathrin Cohen Kadosh at the University of Surrey in Guildford, UK, and colleagues reviewed existing reports of interventions in which diets were changed to target the gut microbiome. These were found to have had minimal effect on youth anxiety. However, the authors urge caution before such a conclusion can be confirmed, citing methodological limitations (including small sample sizes) among the studies they reviewed. They say the next crop of studies will need to involve larger-scale clinical trials.

By contrast, researchers have found that improving young people's cognitive and interpersonal skills can be more effective in preventing and treating anxiety and depression under certain circumstances - although the reason for this is not known. For instance, a concept known as 'decentring' or 'psychological distancing' (that is, encouraging a person to adopt an objective perspective on negative thoughts and feelings) can help both to prevent and to alleviate depression and anxiety, report Marc Bennett at the University of Cambridge, UK, and colleagues, although the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are unclear.

In addition, Alexander Daros at the Campbell Family Mental Health Institute in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues report a meta-analysis of 90 randomized controlled trials. They found that helping young people to improve their emotion-regulation skills, which are needed to control emotional responses to difficult situations, enables them to cope better with anxiety and depression. However, it is still unclear whether better regulation of emotions is the cause or the effect of these improvements.

Co-production is essential

It's uncommon - but increasingly seen as essential - that researchers working on treatments and interventions are directly involving young people who've experienced mental ill health. These young people need to be involved in all aspects of the research process, from conceptualizing to and designing a study, to conducting it and interpreting the results. Such an approach will lead to more-useful science, and will lessen the risk of developing irrelevant or inappropriate interventions.

Science careers and mental health

Two such young people are co-authors in a review from Karolin Krause at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues. The review explored whether training in problem solving helps to alleviate depressive symptoms. The two youth partners, in turn, convened a panel of 12 other youth advisers, and together they provided input on shaping how the review of the evidence was carried out and on interpreting and contextualizing the findings. The study concluded that, although problem-solving training could help with personal challenges when combined with other treatments, it doesn't on its own measurably reduce depressive symptoms.

The overarching message that emerges from these reviews is that there is no 'silver bullet' for preventing and treating anxiety and depression in young people - rather, prevention and treatment will need to rely on a combination of interventions that take into account individual needs and circumstances. Higher-quality evidence is also needed, such as large-scale trials using established protocols.

Along with the UNICEF report, the studies underscore the transformational part that funders must urgently play, and why researchers, clinicians and communities must work together on more studies that genuinely involve young people as co-investigators. Together, we can all do better to create a brighter, healthier future for a generation of young people facing more challenges than ever before.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02690-5

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Young people's mental health is finally getting the attention it needs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The COVID-19 pandemic, a UNICEF report and a review of the latest research all highlight the urgent need for better prevention and treatment of youth anxiety and depression. The COVID-19 pandemic, a UNICEF report and a review of the latest research all highlight the urgent need for better prevention and treatment of youth anxiety and depression.

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The U.S. is experiencing the psychological impacts of the aftermath of covid, The long-term effects that came with the pandemic has had a significant impact on our mental health. Based on the results of Stress in America™ 2023, a survey was conducted by The Harris Poll which had 3,000+ adults surveyed. Many adults said that chronic health conditions increased during the pandemic. Adults also experienced a high increase in mental health issues during the pandemic, going from 31% of adults suffering from mental illness to 45% of adults in just 4 years. Though, 80% of these people said they thought they were in good health, even if they had a mental or chronic illness. Why do you think mental illness increased during the pandemic?

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Washington - U.S. society appears to be experiencing the psychological impacts of a collective trauma in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the results of a new survey by the American Psychological Association. Psychologists warn that a superficial characterization of life being "back to normal" is obscuring the post-traumatic effects on mental and physical health.

The long-term stress sustained since the Covid-19 pandemic began has had a significant impact on well-being, evidenced by a significant increase in reported mental health conditions and chronic illnesses, according to the results of Stress in America™ 2023, a nationwide survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA among more than 3,000 U.S. adults age 18+.

The survey revealed that those ages 35 to 44 reported the most significant increase in chronic health conditions since the pandemic-58% in 2023 compared with 48% in 2019. Adults ages 35 to 44 also experienced the highest increase in mental health diagnoses-45% reported a mental illness in 2023 compared with 31% in 2019-though adults ages 18 to 34 still reported the highest rate of mental illnesses at 50% in 2023. Adults ages 35 to 44 were more likely to report that money (77% vs. 65%) and the economy (74% vs. 51%) were the factors that cause them significant stress today compared with 2019.

"The Covid-19 pandemic created a collective experience among Americans. While the early pandemic lockdowns may seem like the distant past, the aftermath remains," said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, APA's chief executive officer. "We cannot ignore the fact that we have been significantly changed by the loss of more than one million Americans, as well as the shift in our workplaces, school systems and culture at large. To move toward post-traumatic growth, we must first identify and understand the psychological wounds that remain."

APA psychologists noted that many people had generally positive perceptions of their physical health even when they reported being diagnosed with a chronic condition. More than four in five adults rated their physical health as good, very good or excellent (81%), yet 66% of adults said they have been told by a health care provider that they have a chronic illness.

Furthermore, 81% of adults reported their mental health as good, very good or excellent, while more than one-third (37%) said they have a diagnosed mental health condition-a 5 percentage point increase from pre-pandemic levels in 2019 (32%).

The majority of adults also downplayed their stress; 67% said their problems aren't "bad enough" to be stressed about, knowing that others have it worse. When asked why they don't seek treatment, adults' top reasons were the belief that therapy doesn't work (40%), lack of time (39%) or lack of insurance (37%). Despite these reasons, nearly half (47%) said they wish they had someone to help manage their stress, and 62% reported they don't talk about their stress because they don't want to burden others.

Nearly a quarter of adults (24%) rated their average stress between eight and 10 on a scale of one to 10 where one means little to no stress and 10 means a great deal of stress. This is up from 19% in 2019, before the pandemic. This increase was mirrored across all age groups except those age 65+: 34% of those age 18 to 34 reported this in 2023 (+8 percentage points from 2019); 31% of those 35 to 44 (+10 percentage points); 22% of those 45 to 64 (+4 percentage points); and 9% of those 65+ (-1 percentage point). Parents of children under the age of 18 who ranked their average stress between eight and 10 also saw a significant increase (33% in 2023 vs. 24% in 2019).

In 2023, parents were more likely than other adults to report that financial strain increased in their household (46% vs. 34%), that money is a cause of fights in their family (58% vs. 30%) and that they are more likely to feel consumed by worries regarding money (66% vs. 39%). Most troubling is that compared with other adults, parents of children under the age of 18 were more likely to report that on most days their stress is completely overwhelming (48% vs. 26%), they are so stressed they feel numb (42% vs. 22%) or on most days they are so stressed they can't function (41% vs. 20%).

"Stress affects all systems of the body, so it is crucial that Americans know the serious impacts of stress and what they can do to reduce the effect of stressors in their life, as well as receive help from their health care providers, workplace and support systems to prevent further health crises," said Evans.

More information on the survey findings and how to handle stress is available on the Stress in America webpage.

Methodology

The research was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association among 3,185 adults age 18+ who reside in the U.S. (i.e., a national sample). In addition, oversamples allowed for increased totals by race/ethnicity: 805 Black, 811 Latino/a/e and 800 Asian individuals. For adults who identify as Latino/a/e, interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. The survey was conducted Aug. 4-26, 2023.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris' surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data for the national sample is accurate to within + 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.

A full methodology is available.

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Stress in America™ 2023: A nation grappling with psychological impacts of collective trauma

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U.S. society appears to be experiencing the psychological impacts of a collective trauma in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Mental illness is an equal opportunity issue. It affects young and old, male and female, and individuals of every race, ethnic background, education level, and income level. The good news Everyone feels worried or anxious or down from time to time. But relatively few people develop a That could create a lot of stress for those people.Signs and symptoms of mental illness depend in part on the illness.

often thinking about death or suicide.

Dozens of mental illnesses have been identified and defined. They include depression, generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and many more that it can often be treated.What's the difference mental illness is a mental health condition?

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In this article it stated how depression is hugh to your mental health and different type of depressions. What depression does is that it affects how a person feels, sleeping, eating, or working. They can be signs of depression like losing interest, hard to concentrate, and a decrease in energy. It's not so hard to get depressed because it's a common mental disorder. If you feel like you have depression you can treat it by going to therapy or taking medications. If any of you were depressed what treatment did you take.

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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Learn about depression, including types, signs and symptoms, risk factors, treatments and therapies, and things you can do to help during treatment.

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The importance of mental health is very strong because mental health is a daily struggle for some people.and when it becomes a daily struggle it gets hard because you might not be in the right mindset and you dont think straight. The daily struggles of mental health are disorders or withdrawing from family and friends or thinking about death or suicide and we don't want those things to happen and it turns that person with those struggles into a unhappy person. and so the best thing we could possibly do is don't leave them alone and try and get them some help so they don's feel like this disgusting person and have bad feeling or side effects . So when people are trying to seek help for a mental illness like mental health let them or bring them to go see a therapist so that they can talk and hash there feeling out that they are feeling so that when they come out of the therapist office they can be feeling better about themselves and never have those feelings or stigmas again and be the best that they can be. Overall mental health is very serious when you are feeling it don't be scared to speak up and tell someone that you are feeling this way because you think someone is going to bully you it's because we want you to feel good about yourself and be able to speak your mind to the people that are close to you. How do you think people should cure there mental health.?

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https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health

This very educational article explains how you can keep your mental health up. A few Healthy ways you can are, to get regular exercise, Stay connected, and focus on positivity. Self-care is a significant thing and should be talked about more. You should check on people more and tell people nice things. When you should seek Professional help is when you have difficulty sleeping, Loss of interest in things you usually find enjoyable, and a hard time concentrating. What are something you can do to help your mental health?

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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Overview

Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, make choices, and relate to others. Mental health is more than the absence of a mental illness-it's essential to your overall health and quality of life. Self-care can play a role in maintaining your mental health and help support your treatment and recovery if you have a mental illness.

About Self-Care

Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact.

Here are some tips to help you get started with self-care:

Get regular exercise. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can help boost your mood and improve your health. Small amounts of exercise add up, so don't be discouraged if you can't do 30 minutes at one time.

Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated. A balanced diet and plenty of water can improve your energy and focus throughout the day. Also, limit caffeinated beverages such as soft drinks or coffee.

Make sleep a priority. Stick to a schedule, and make sure you're getting enough sleep. Blue light from devices and screens can make it harder to fall asleep, so reduce blue light exposure from your phone or computer before bedtime.

Try a relaxing activity. Explore relaxation or wellness programs or apps, which may incorporate meditation, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises. Schedule regular times for these and other healthy activities you enjoy such as journaling.

Set goals and priorities. Decide what must get done now and what can wait. Learn to say "no" to new tasks if you start to feel like you're taking on too much. Try to be mindful of what you have accomplished at the end of the day, not what you have been unable to do.

Practice gratitude. Remind yourself daily of things you are grateful for. Be specific. Write them down at night, or replay them in your mind.

Focus on positivity. Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.

Stay connected. Reach out to your friends or family members who can provide emotional support and practical help.

Self-care looks different for everyone, and it is important to find what you need and enjoy. It may take trial and error to discover what works best for you. In addition, although self-care is not a cure for mental illnesses, understanding what causes or triggers your mild symptoms and what coping techniques work for you can help manage your mental health.

For other ideas for healthy practices for your mind, body, surroundings, and relationships, see the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Wellness Toolkits .

When to Seek Professional Help

Seek professional help if you are experiencing severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted 2 weeks or more, such as:

Difficulty sleeping

Appetite changes that result in unwanted weight changes

Struggling to get out of bed in the morning because of mood

Difficulty concentrating

Loss of interest in things you usually find enjoyable

Inability to perform usual daily functions and responsibilities

Don't wait until your symptoms are overwhelming. Talk about your concerns with your primary care provider, who can refer you to a mental health professional if needed. If you don't know where to start, read the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Tips for Talking With a Health Care Provider About Your Mental Health. Learn more about how to get help or find a provider on the NIMH's Help for Mental Illnesses webpage.

What to Do in a Crisis

If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org . This service is confidential, free, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In life-threatening situations, call 911.

For additional information about suicide prevention, please see NIMH's Suicide Prevention webpage.

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Federal Resources

Other Resources

Note: This list of non-federal resources is provided for informational purposes only. It is not comprehensive and does not constitute an endorsement by NIMH, NIH, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or the U.S. government.

Last Reviewed: December 2022

Unless otherwise specified, the information on our website and in our publications is in the public domain and may be reused or copied without permission. However, you may not reuse or copy images. Please cite the National Institute of Mental Health as the source. Read our copyright policy to learn more about our guidelines for reusing NIMH content.

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Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, make choices, and relate to others.

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Mental health is a problem that can affect everyone no matter their age or gender. Everyone will feel anxious or stressed sometimes but these are not quite mental illnesses. There are plenty of mental illnesses that affect lots of people for most of their life, like depression anxiety disorder, or OCD. Mental illnesses can affect people's everyday life and general function. This can make living with a mental illness very difficult. Symptoms of mental illness can include feeling depressed, very tired all the time, extreme mood swings, and withdrawing from loved ones. Do you know anyone that might be struggling with a mental illness?

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Social Media has been on the rise from when it first came out with about 69% of American adults and 81% of teens have some form of Social Media. Social Media can be used to spread ideas, make videos, and other things but people also use it for bad to make fun of or bully other people. Social Media can cause a lot of anxiety for some people who will obsess about not getting a like from someone or if someone doesn't comment on their post. These things can cause unneeded stress for people especially teens. The early teens start Social Media the higher chance it will affect their mental health due to them fearing that they will miss out on things if they aren't on big social media app like Tik Tok, Instagram, or Snapchat. Social Media has also caused teens to become more sensitive about their bodies. This happens because kids can go on a app and see a model and they will compare them to themselves which causes teens to become insecure. There is a way to stop these things from happening though, people can take breaks through the week from Social Media, or by deleting one of their apps. Why do you think Social Media affects so many teens?

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Here's How Social Media Affects Your Mental Health | McLean Hospital

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Using social media can directly impact emotional wellness, physical, and mental health. Here are the signs that you are affected.

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Mental Health and Medical Disorders - Ellie Miller

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Mental Health and Medical Disorders - Ellie Miller

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Mental Health was stated as a brain illness centuries ago. Today there are many different types of mental illness and they can be anything from eating disorders to depression. Mental Illnesses should be treated the same as medical disorders because they are just as severe. Working out and eating healthily improves your mental health as well as your physical health. Medical knowledge takes leaps toward the future, but we don't have to only use that knowlege just for medical reasons but also to figure out more about mental illnesses and how to treat them.

What are the differences between mental illnesses and medical disorders?

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The nature of mental illness has been the subject of passionate discussion throughout history. In ancient Greece Plato,1,2 promoting a mentalist definition of mental illness, was the first to coin the term "mental health," which was conceived as reason aided by temper and ruling over passion. At around the same time, Hippocrates,3 taking a more physicalist approach, defined different mental conditions as a variety of imbalances between different kinds of "humours." Griesinger4,5 almost 2 centuries ago was the first to state that "mental illness is brain illness," an expression that has provided a strong impetus to the more recent medical conception of mental illness. The substantial progress accomplished in genomics and brain imaging in the last few decades made biological psychiatry stronger than ever and contributed to the reification of mental disorders as illnesses of the brain. The almost exclusively biogenetic conceptual framework for understanding mental illness has acquired a hegemony that has influenced mental health practitioners while also influencing campaigns designed to improve public attitudes toward the mentally ill. As a result, the statement "mental illness is like any other illness" has become almost axiomatic and, therefore, by definition it embodies an accepted truth not in need of a proof.

This view of mental illness is presented for better acceptance of the mentally ill by the public and of treatment by those experiencing mental illness and is indeed based on accumulated, albeit limited, knowledge in the neurobiology of mental disorders. However, anything that reaches axiomatic proportions needs a serious examination. In this editorial we examine the reasons underlying this perspective, its consequences and the evidence to support or refute its continued justification. We then present a position that we believe best fits the current state of knowledge and is closest to clinical realities and public perceptions of mental illnesses.

What does the statement actually imply?

The statement that "mental illness is like any other medical illness" implies that mental illness has a biological basis just like other medical illnesses and should be treated in the public's eye in a similar manner. The purpose of this article is not to present a philosophical or ideological argument in favour of or against a biological basis explaining mental illness, but rather to examine the clinical and public utility of presenting a dominant neurobiological model of mental illness to patients, their families and the public at large.

Illness, pathophysiology and the "self''

To understand the justification of equating mental and medical disorders, a comparison often made between type 2 diabetes and mental disorders, especially schizophrenia, other psychoses and depression, is worth examining in some detail. Diabetes, although very complex, is understood as the result of dysfunctional glucose metabolism related to absolute or relative insufficiency of insulin signalling. This dysfunctional metabolism is the consequence of endogenous predispositions, such as hereditary diathesis, and environmental factors, including personal choices, such as poor diet and sedentary life style. Therefore, by improving glucose metabolism, either through medication, insulin replacement or changes in lifestyle, positive health outcomes can be expected. Diabetes is diagnosed by confirming high levels of fasting glucose and other related biochemical markers of glucose metabolism. Further, the cascade of its effects on other systems (e.g., cardiovascular, central nervous system) are, or could be, well explained on the basis of physiologic mechanisms. They can also be prevented/treated by better and early control of diabetes. All through this, however, the patient is aware of the nature of his or her problems, including personal choices, and diabetes generally does not affect his or her day-today thinking, behaviour or perception. Except for mental health complications due to neurologic illnesses (e.g., delirium in the context of severe metabolic complications, depression as a consequence of awareness of the life and death implication of the disorder, abnormal perceptions in the case of some neurologic conditions), it can be stated that somatic illnesses, such as diabetes do not usually alter the core self of a person substantially. More importantly, the model of attribution presented to the patient is congruent with the scientific "facts," thereby making it easier for the person as well as society to accept the condition.

Mental disorders, on the other hand, affect the very core of one's being through a range of experiences and phenomena of varying severity that alter the individual's thinking, perception and consciousness about the self, others and the world. This is seen to an extreme degree with more serious mental disorders, such as psychoses and bipolar disorders, but to a lesser albeit significant degree with anxiety, mood, eating and other psychiatric disorders. Emotion, perception, thought and action are the essence of human identity and the concept of "self," and these are the prime domains altered in mental disorders. The precise definition of what constitutes the self and whether the location of a state of self is a material reality in the brain, its form and the brain-related factors that influence it are deeply philosophical issues,6,7 but not the subject of this editorial. Suffice it to say that factors involved in increasing the risk for mental disorders are endogenous (genetics is recognized as a major contributor to most mental disorders) as well as environmental, much like most medical disorders. Psychological deprivation and trauma, social defeat and isolation, poverty and poor family environment are but some of the environmental factors that have been reported to increase the risk for mental disorders. In addition to changes at the physiologic level, common to somatic and mental disorders the latter encompass changes in one's definition of "self," and are not situated outside the "self." It can even be argued that in the absence of any substantiated biological marker for mental disorders (only 1 has been included in the recent DSM-5: orexin change in narcolepsy),8 the hallmark defining features of mental disorders, at least for now, remain the changes in how the patients feel, think and act and how these changes affect their relation to themselves and to others.

As a first corollary of this definition, contrary to medical conditions where restoring dysfunctional physiologic mechanisms is the main target of therapeutic interventions, this is only 1 part of the therapeutic interventions for mental disorders. The primary focus of therapeutic interventions in mental disorders is helping the patient to feel better and interact more adaptively with his or her social and physical environments. Although there is little doubt that all medical conditions require psychological attention, mental health interventions focus primarily on achieving a positive change in feeling, self-esteem, mood, perceptions, thoughts and action - all changes in the "self" that are not primarily targeted in the treatment of medical conditions. Different models of psychological and social interventions are the main ingredients for these desired changes in the self.

A second corollary of this definition is the fact that mental health is very laden with values, not because scientific factors are lacking, but because values become of the utmost importance - more so than for medical disorders - when we deal with the self and its restoration. While somatic illnesses such as diabetes are primarily defined and shaped by biologically discernible facts, values do play a certain role but do not define the disorder. Societal and personal values are important in the treatment of most medical disorders, but acquire paramount importance in the case of mental disorders. Societal and cultural values even define variations in diagnoses over time and across geographic locations. Compulsory treatments, a particularity in the mental health field, are a strong testimony of how mental health can interfere with the self and how the personal values of the patient can clash with the societal values, thus necessitating legal, value-laden mitigation.

Neurobiology and experience of mental illness

Advances in neurosciences have surely given us much better biological mechanistic explanations of many of the uniquely human cognitive, emotional and conative functions, such as memory, thinking, perception, mood and action. This knowledge has informed us that many mental illnesses derive their vulnerability from underlying biological variations. However, we are far from being able to explain in neurobiological terms many of the behaviours and experiences that constitute the core presentations of mental disorders. Even if neurobiology one day were to provide better explanations of the workings of the brain, more elaborately explain the role of genes in increasing the risk for mental illness and the mechanisms behind complex human behaviour, one would still need to understand the experiences of patients with different forms of mental illness in psychological terms, as recently described by Kendler9 so eloquently. By equating mental illness with any medical illness and, therefore, situating it in an organ within the human biology and not recognizing its unique nature in the way it affects the "self" cannot be justified on the basis of current state of knowledge nor may it serve our patients and society well, as we explain in the rest of this editorial.

Mental illness and the utility of explanatory models

Indeed, it is envisaged that putting mental illness on the same footing as medical illness, society will understand it better and not react negatively toward those with mental illnesses. It is hoped that as a result those with mental illness may face less social stigma - a major obstacle to people seeking and/or receiving help - and reducing stigma may help individuals regain eventual acceptance by society as productive members. Interestingly, the public's explanatory models of mental illness do not follow this narrative and, on the contrary, the public have multiple models of explaining mental illness varying across cultures and times.

One needs to ask the pragmatic question of whether the strategy of using a biogenetic model of mental illness and equating it with medical illness has actually helped. There are 2 areas worthy of examination in this regard.

Explanatory models, stigma and society

The first is to examine the effect of the statement, "mental illness is like any other medical illness," on social stigma toward people with mental illness. As indicated previously, implicit in the axiomatic statement is a primarily biological origin of the behaviour and suffering that characterize mental illness. Let us examine the evidence in this regard. In the last decade or 2, biogenetic attribution of all mental disorders, having acquired a hegemoneous status10 has been used primarily to inform campaigns for reducing stigma and promoting better acceptance of mental illness and the people with mental illnesses by society.11,12 Several well-conducted studies have concluded, almost uniformly, that this strategy has not only not worked, but also may have worsened public attitudes and behaviour toward those with mental illnesses. Investigations of stigma have shown that those who consider mental disorders as primarily attributable to biological forces, just like other medical disorders, while absolving the mentally ill person of responsibility for their behaviour and actions, tend to feel less optimistic about their ability to get better and function well, are less accepting of them and feel less positively toward them.13⁻16 In a review of the literature related to the concept of mental illness being like any other illness, Read and colleagues17 reported that biogenetic causal theories and diagnostic labelling as illness are both positively related to perceptions of dangerousness and unpredictability and to fear of and desire for social distance. The attitudes investigated in these studies are reflected in individuals' responses to whether they would live next door to, socialize or make friends with or have a close relative get married to a person described as being mentally ill. There is also evidence to suggest that biogenetic explanatory models may have negative consequences for those with mental illness in terms of their implicit self concept and explicit attitudes, such as fear.18 Further, campaigns to reduce stigma that encourage people to think about mental illness as simply another form of medical illness have produced results that show effects to the contrary. For example, a recent study showed that over a 10-year period of deliberate use of the biogenetic explanatory model for campaigning to reduce stigma has resulted in worsening of most, if not all, aspects of public attitudes toward individuals with mental illnesses.19,20 The strength of these perhaps counterintuitive findings comes from the fact that these studies were adequately designed, well powered and, most importantly, replicated in several countries (e.g., United States, Britain, Germany) with very similar results. It is acknowledged that these relatively negative attitudes may be particularly stronger in relation to certain forms of mental illness (e.g., psychosis, manic depressive illness) and addictions.

Explanatory models of mental illness and the mentally ill person

Another domain - perhaps the most important - of examination is the individual with mental illness. In clinical practice, telling patients that their presenting mental illness is like any other medical illness may initially reassure some and assist them in accepting to take medication, especially during the distressing acute phases of a serious mental disorder. They or their families may welcome a simple explanation for encouraging them to accept treatment, which in many cases includes medication. While this strategy can achieve something very important in acute crisis-like situations, it may become problematic, if persistent over time, in getting individuals to accept other highly effective psychological and social treatments. These latter interventions are highly effective and considerably less noxious than often less effective medications for some forms of mental illness, such as mild to moderate depression, anxiety and eating disorders, and emotional dysregulation associated with several long-standing mental illnesses. Even in the most serious mental disorders, such as psychotic, bipolar and severe major depressive disorders, where medications are invariably an essential part of treatment, psychological and social therapeutic interventions are the essential bridge between pharmacological interventions during the acute crises and the need for their sustained use in the long term while at the same time achieving the essential goals of relief of internal distress, restoration of self and a return to productive social and working lives.

Furthermore, presenting mental illness as any other medical illness often implies a medical treatment (medication in most cases) as the dominant treatment strategy. Patients' rejection of the treating clinician's medical illness model is generally described as lack of insight and starts the cycle of nonadherence to medication, which then translates into nonadherence to treatment. In reality, if patients and families are allowed to articulate their attributional models, given credit for their "experiential knowledge" and encouraged to enter into a dialogue with the treating clinician, it is more likely there will be some consensus on acceptance of recommended treatment. This may prevent the cycle of disengagement and decline in the course that follows.

What needs to be done?

In clinical practice, if we are to take seriously the multidimensional goals of providing mental health services, as articulated by those seeking and receiving help for mental illness, clinicians have to work within an attributional model that makes sense to the person receiving service, that can be supported by sound argument and evidence and that provides a framework within which those receiving service and those providing it can share a common language. Such a framework will need to include the biogenetic model of attribution of mental illness as 1 of several parallel and equally authentic social, psychological, environmental and cultural models offered by service providers and researchers (acquired knowledge) as well as those who experience mental illness (experiential knowledge). There is a need to create a common language in order to come to an understanding of the person's experience and to promote such an understanding among the public at large. Denying the special nature of mental illness is unlikely to achieve these important goals.

Some recent developments, such as the promotion of a recovery model21⁻23 and the early intervention movement,24,25 may hold more promise in improving both the quality of care and possibly involvement of and improvement in public attitudes. The former has emerged from experiential knowledge and advocacy from service users, supported later by sound qualitative research, whereas the latter has emerged from a combination of a shift in philosophy of delivery of care on the part of service providers, parallel generation of evidence of its effectiveness26,27 and greater acceptance by service users and their families, who have now joined the movement as advocates. A third emerging movement, the concept of positive mental health,28,29 may prove to be effective in combating the negative image of mental illness. This movement promotes and is based on human resilience and positive aspects of the experience of mental illness. There is a burgeoning literature emerging in this field, which may balance the rather deterministic, deficit oriented and largely pessimistic miasma created by using an exclusively biogenetic model to explain mental disorders.

Conclusion and recommendations

Simply seeking an axiom of "mental illness is like any other medical illness" is at best simplifying a complex human problem and at worst doing a major disservice to patients, their families and the mental health field. Our dialogue should incorporate the general complexity of human thinking, behaviour, memories and the idea of self and consciousness, including knowledge emerging from sophisticated biogenetic and social science research while attending to the specific complexities that each of us as human beings carry as part of our life stories. That is true for those receiving and those providing services.

We therefore argue that we should continue to have a social and a professional conversation where we find a proper place for neurobiology, social, cultural and environmental forces, personal histories and the uniqueness of each individual when trying to understand, explain and treat mental disorders while avoiding a simplistic reductionism that may be perceived at best as patronizing but ultimately harmful, even though the intentions may be noble. We propose that future antistigma campaigns should give up the axiom of "mental illness is like any other medical illness" and instead present the complex and multifaceted explanations of mental illness as unique along with the positive aspects as discussed here. These campaigns need to be informed not only by the acquired knowledge of service providers and scientists but equally by the experiential knowledge from service users and their families, taking into consideration new knowledge emerging from fields of recovery, early intervention and positive mental health. For clinicians, it would be equally important to embrace explanatory models of mental illness that are based on evidence in science and to include biogenetic, social and cultural models as well as those told to them by the very people they are trying to serve.

Footnotes

Editors' note: The ideas expressed in this editorial are not necessarily those of the journal. Importantly, JPN continues to focus on publishing "papers at the intersection of psychiatry and neuroscience that advance our understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in the etiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders."

Competing interests: See jpn.ca for R. Joober. None declared by A. Malla or A. Garcia.

References

2. Kenny A. The anatomy of the soul: historical essays in the philosophy of mind. Blackwell; 1973. [ Google Scholar]

3. Lloyd GER, Chadwick J, Mann WN. Hippocratic writings. Vol. 451. Penguin UK; 1983. [ Google Scholar]

4. Griesinger W. Die pathologie und therapie der psychischen krankheiten: für aerzte und studirende. A. Krabbe; 1861. [ Google Scholar]

7. Fulford B, Thornton T, Graham G. Oxford textbook of philosophy and psychiatry. Oxford University Press; 2006. Philosophical outputs in mental health practice and research; pp. 111-138. [ Google Scholar]

11. US Department of Health Human Services. Achieving the promise: transforming mental health care in america: the president 's new freedom commission on mental health report. Bethesda, MD: 2003. [ Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience : JPN are provided here courtesy of Canadian Medical Association

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"Mental illness is like any other medical illness": a critical examination of the statement and its impact on patient care and society

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The nature of mental illness has been the subject of passionate discussion throughout history. In ancient Greece Plato,1 , 2 promoting a mentalist definition of mental illness, was the first to coin the term "mental health," which was conceived as reason aided by temper and ruling over passion.

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Importance of Mental health awareness in schools. - Angie Avendano

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Importance of Mental health awareness in schools. - Angie Avendano

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The main point of my article is to discuss the importance of awareness of mental health in a school setting. According to the article, 60% of students don't graduate because of a mental illness they suffer from. The average age for early signs of mental illness is 13-14 years old, but most people don't seek help until adulthood. Even though mental illnesses happen at an early age, there is a lack of awareness in schools. Due to the increase in illnesses, schools need to spend more time educating staff and students about mental health. Teachers and administrators need to promote awareness and learn about the signs of mental illnesses in students. Teachers and students speaking out for others who suffer from mental illnesses can make a big impact on one's life.

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Many of us worry from time to time. We fret over finances, feel anxious about job interviews, or get nervous about social gatherings. These feelings can be normal or even helpful. They may give us a boost of energy or help us focus. But for people with anxiety disorders, they can be overwhelming.

Anxiety disorders affect nearly 1 in 5 American adults each year. People with these disorders have feelings of fear and uncertainty that interfere with every day activities and last for 6 months or more. Anxiety disorders can also raise your risk for other medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse, and depression. how can we help this?

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Young people’s mental health is finally getting the attention it needs.

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Young people’s mental health is finally getting the attention it needs.

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This mental health article is about how young people struggle with mental health just like adults do. The United Nations has created a children’s charity for mental health and It’s the first time in the organization’s history that this flagship report has tackled the challenges in and opportunities for preventing and treating mental-health problems among young people. The meaning of children’s mental health is just as important as adults because children could even be going though equal or even worse symptoms or disorders. How can us kids have another voice?

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The COVID-19 pandemic, a UNICEF report and a review of the latest research all highlight the urgent need for better prevention and treatment of youth anxiety and depression.

Worldwide, at least 13% of people between the ages of 10 and 19 live with a diagnosed mental-health disorder, according to the latest State of the World's Children report, published this week by the United Nations children's charity UNICEF. It's the first time in the organization's history that this flagship report has tackled the challenges in and opportunities for preventing and treating mental-health problems among young people. It reveals that adolescent mental health is highly complex, understudied - and underfunded. These findings are echoed in a parallel collection of review articles published this week in a number of Springer Nature journals.

Anxiety and depression constitute more than 40% of mental-health disorders among young people (those aged 10-19). UNICEF also reports that, worldwide, suicide is the fourth most-common cause of death (after road injuries, tuberculosis and interpersonal violence) among adolescents (aged 15-19). In eastern Europe and central Asia, suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in that age group - and it's the second-highest cause in western Europe and North America.

Sadly, psychological distress among young people seems to be rising. One study found that rates of depression among a nationally representative sample of US adolescents (aged 12 to 17) increased from 8.5% of young adults to 13.2% between 2005 and 2017. There's also initial evidence that the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating this trend in some countries. For example, in a nationwide study from Iceland, adolescents (aged 13-18) reported significantly more symptoms of mental ill health during the pandemic than did their peers before it. And girls were more likely to experience these symptoms than were boys.

Although most mental-health disorders arise during adolescence, UNICEF says that only one-third of investment in mental-health research is targeted towards young people. Moreover, the research itself suffers from fragmentation - scientists involved tend to work inside some key disciplines, such as psychiatry, paediatrics, psychology and epidemiology, and the links between research and health-care services are often poor. This means that effective forms of prevention and treatment are limited, and lack a solid understanding of what works, in which context and why.

This week's collection of review articles dives deep into the state of knowledge of interventions - those that work and those that don't - for preventing and treating anxiety and depression in young people aged 14-24. In some of the projects, young people with lived experience of anxiety and depression were co-investigators, involved in both the design and implementation of the reviews, as well as in interpretation of the findings.

Quest for new therapies

Worldwide, the most common treatment for anxiety and depression is a class of drug called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which increase serotonin levels in the brain and are intended to enhance emotion and mood. But their modest efficacy and substantial side effects have spurred the study of alternative physiological mechanisms that could be involved in youth depression and anxiety, so that new therapeutics can be developed.

For example, researchers have been investigating potential links between depression and inflammatory disorders - such as asthma, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory bowel disease. This is because, in many cases, adults with depression also experience such disorders. Moreover, there's evidence that, in mice, changes to the gut microbiota during development reduce behaviours similar to those linked to anxiety and depression in people. That suggests that targeting the gut microbiome during adolescence could be a promising avenue for reducing anxiety in young people. Kathrin Cohen Kadosh at the University of Surrey in Guildford, UK, and colleagues reviewed existing reports of interventions in which diets were changed to target the gut microbiome. These were found to have had minimal effect on youth anxiety. However, the authors urge caution before such a conclusion can be confirmed, citing methodological limitations (including small sample sizes) among the studies they reviewed. They say the next crop of studies will need to involve larger-scale clinical trials.

By contrast, researchers have found that improving young people's cognitive and interpersonal skills can be more effective in preventing and treating anxiety and depression under certain circumstances - although the reason for this is not known. For instance, a concept known as 'decentring' or 'psychological distancing' (that is, encouraging a person to adopt an objective perspective on negative thoughts and feelings) can help both to prevent and to alleviate depression and anxiety, report Marc Bennett at the University of Cambridge, UK, and colleagues, although the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are unclear.

In addition, Alexander Daros at the Campbell Family Mental Health Institute in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues report a meta-analysis of 90 randomized controlled trials. They found that helping young people to improve their emotion-regulation skills, which are needed to control emotional responses to difficult situations, enables them to cope better with anxiety and depression. However, it is still unclear whether better regulation of emotions is the cause or the effect of these improvements.

Co-production is essential

It's uncommon - but increasingly seen as essential - that researchers working on treatments and interventions are directly involving young people who've experienced mental ill health. These young people need to be involved in all aspects of the research process, from conceptualizing to and designing a study, to conducting it and interpreting the results. Such an approach will lead to more-useful science, and will lessen the risk of developing irrelevant or inappropriate interventions.

Science careers and mental health

Two such young people are co-authors in a review from Karolin Krause at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada, and colleagues. The review explored whether training in problem solving helps to alleviate depressive symptoms. The two youth partners, in turn, convened a panel of 12 other youth advisers, and together they provided input on shaping how the review of the evidence was carried out and on interpreting and contextualizing the findings. The study concluded that, although problem-solving training could help with personal challenges when combined with other treatments, it doesn't on its own measurably reduce depressive symptoms.

The overarching message that emerges from these reviews is that there is no 'silver bullet' for preventing and treating anxiety and depression in young people - rather, prevention and treatment will need to rely on a combination of interventions that take into account individual needs and circumstances. Higher-quality evidence is also needed, such as large-scale trials using established protocols.

Along with the UNICEF report, the studies underscore the transformational part that funders must urgently play, and why researchers, clinicians and communities must work together on more studies that genuinely involve young people as co-investigators. Together, we can all do better to create a brighter, healthier future for a generation of young people facing more challenges than ever before.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02690-5

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Young people's mental health is finally getting the attention it needs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The COVID-19 pandemic, a UNICEF report and a review of the latest research all highlight the urgent need for better prevention and treatment of youth anxiety and depression. The COVID-19 pandemic, a UNICEF report and a review of the latest research all highlight the urgent need for better prevention and treatment of youth anxiety and depression.