Being able to try and figure out the correlation between mental health issues and the reason it can negatively impact ones' school performance isn't that easy to do. As stated in the quote, there are a lot of different factors that can play into someone and their declining grades, and it can also vary on a person-to-person basis.

"A student was considered to have mental-health problems if

they had received at least one prescription for drugs; data on

prescriptions were obtained from the Swedish Prescribed

Drug Register (See Wettermark et al., 2007 for a description

of the content and potetials of the register). The ATC-codes

taken to signify mental-health problems were N05 and N06. The N05, psycholeptics, includes treatment of psychological

disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and insomnia. The N06,

psychoanaleptics, includes treatment of depression and

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)."

This shows how they went about their research and how they determined whether or not a student had mental health problems. They also classified their potential problems into differing groups that had different mental health illnesses grouped into them aswell.

"Poor mental-health during childhood correlated negatively with educational attainment. Given the strong link between educational success and adult life, more resources are needed to support children with mental-health problems."

This proves the fact that adolescents need to be given more mental health resources in order to combat any issues or problems they may be enduring. Being able to talk with someone who can help them as soon as possible is a key stepping stone to helping alleviate that issue and keep them on track in succeeding in the classroom and later on in life.

"However, mental-health problems during the late teens had a stronger impact on upper secondary school achievement than did mental-health problems occurring during the early teens. This indicates that the impact of mental-health problems depends on both their duration and their timing. Experiences of poor mental-health closer to the event – i.e. the time at which students complete their education and receive their grades – has a stronger negative influence then experiences further back in time."

This furthers my point that it is so important to attack these issues as soon as they are discovered. It's not healthy to sit on them and continue to let them get worse over time. Even with this stating it is worse for students later in their educational life, even if you realize mental health issues at 12 years old, it is important to manage it as soon as you can.

"The sample consisted of all children born in Sweden in 1990, who were followed from birth to age 20 (115,882). Logistic and OLS regressions were performed separately for boys and girls, controlling for birth health and family characteristics."

It's important to note the sample group and the population that they did the study on so one can note possible differences or changes that could occur had they tested it on a different population.

This supports my belief that you have to look for the root of the issue regarding mental health and you cannot overlook anything when it comes to adolescent mental health issues.

"Regarding child-to-parent effects, internalizing problems in boys but externalizing problems in girls were associated with later maternal psychological distress."

This finding shows that parents can be major stakeholders within this issue and that one person's mental health issues can cause a domino effect within their close community.

"These findings indicate that the whole family system

should be included in intervention efforts. Family-focused interventions such as family system therapy may prove effective in reducing both parental and child mental health difficulties."

This compounds on my belief that everyone around someone that is having mental health difficulties needs to speak up about what they are going through and seek professional help. The reasoning for this is, like stated above, it can cause a domino effect causing multiple people to suffer from mental health problems, so being able to talk to those around you who show that they care is a massive first step in bettering yourself and those around you.

"Participants were children and parents taking part in the

Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), a longitudinal birth cohort

study that used a stratified sampling procedure to follow

around 19,000 children born in the United Kingdom between

September 2000 and January 2002. Socially disadvantaged

families and families living in areas with high ethnic minority

concentration were intentionally oversampled to ensure the

sample is representative of the UK population."

I think adding the sample for this study is important to remember because the given sample size, group of people, and a lot of the things that can differ from family-to-family is important to note given any singular study.

These statistics are important to highlight because it means, in a typical class of 30 students, 6 of those students are dealing with grueling thoughts of suicide and are having a massively difficult time managing depression among other things.

"Mental health problems in youth often go hand-in-hand with other health and behavioral risks like increased risk of drug use, experiencing violence, and higher risk sexual behaviors that can lead to HIV, STDs and unintended pregnancy."

Being able to see the possible trajectory that a student with mental health issues can go down will hopefully cause those around them to act more diligently than if they were to believe they could wait a little until they see for sure that the mental health issues are staying and impacting the student in a more profound way.

"Because many health behaviors and habits are established in adolescence that will carry over into adult years, it is very important to help youth develop good mental health."

This statement helps carry the fact that trying to input healthy mental health strategies into our youth and adolescents can set them down a positive path that can stray them away any negative places they may go if they encounter difficulties with mental health that persist for far too long.

"In 2023, female students and LGBTQ+ students experienced more signs of poor mental health and suicidal thoughts and behaviors than their male and cisgender and heterosexual peers."

It's important to note the different groups that can be affected by mental health problems and how it can vary based on race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.

This provides a foundation of what they plan on arguing and how they are going to show the different factors that can play into negatively affecting an adolescents mental health.

Teens today are growing up in a fast-paced digital world with constant connections to others. In many ways this can be positive as it allows teens more access to information and social connection than ever, however, it can also influence their self-image, esteem, and mental health. Many teens will compare themselves with others on social media, especially influencers who do not show the full context of their lives. Teen girls are especially vulnerable to beauty standards on social media, influencing mental health problems such as eating disorders."

This quote shows how social media can lead to negatively impacting an adolescents mental health by providing specific points and arguing how social media can lead to negative opinions of ones own self, along with making them believe that they influencers who do put their face and body on social media are the golden standard, and anyone who looks worse than them should be ashamed.

"Parents are one of the biggest influences in a teen’s life. Putting too much pressure on your teen, shaming them, or refusing to hear them out can cause future problems. Parents should actively listen to their teens, and validate their feelings to build an open line of communication and trust. This can make it more likely that your teen comes to you in times of need or if they are struggling with their mental health."

This supplements my belief that parenting is an absolutely major force that can either lead to an adolescent having positive or negative mental health throughout not only their childhood, but also into adulthood. It advocates for the communication between the two parties and having parents be apart of their child's life in a positive way.

"Sometimes adults forget that the current political landscape and what is happening in society also affects teens. Teens are often exposed to the news or societal events that impact their education, relationships, and health. Covid made this clear after rates of teen anxiety & depression skyrocketed during periods of isolation. Teens also may feel uncertainty about their future on a personal level. The pressure of work, going to college, and becoming an adult can take a toll on teens and increase anxiety."

I think the uncertainty about ones' future is something that may get overlooked when trying to figure out what may be causing an adolescents mental health issues. If they believe that they have no place in this world and feel as if they won't be able to live a comfortable life, it can lead to depression and thoughts of suicide could occur. It's so important for their loved ones to check up on them regularly, especially individuals nearing the end of high school and possibly individuals in college or those who did not go to college. Regardless of that, it's always so important to have serious conversations with them, even if they seem as if everything is alright.

This quote shows how important it is for parents to stay up-to-date with their children and to always check-in with them. Realizing that your child isn't always going to share information with you can be jarring, but it's up to the parent to instead initiate conversations and to let their child ease into sharing information instead of forcing them to do so.

"In fact, we tend to overlook youth who don’t fit the typical mold for depression and anxiety. Many adults think of a depressed teen as someone who isolates themselves from others and looks sad or angry all the time. Yet we know that bright, high-achieving youth can be suffering. While on the outside it appears they are doing well, they may be putting extreme pressure on themselves to be “perfect.” And when they don’t meet those expectations, they can feel extremely anxious and depressed and may even experience suicidal thoughts."

This argues and informs the reader that their isn't a mold or stereotypical type of person that could have depression or other mental illnesses. Just because you think they aren't suffering doesn't mean they aren't. This section argues in favor for the fact that mental health problems are higher than we have seen and that it is up to the parent first and foremost to navigate these issues with their child before it gets any worse.

"Encourage healthy relationships with other supportive adults. There may be teachers, aunts, uncles, grandparents or neighbors who are a part of your child’s life. The more positive, supportive adult relationships they have, the more likely they will talk to someone."

This portion provides something for parents to do in order to make sure their child is getting the help and support they need, even if it isn't them providing that support directly. Being able to indirectly support your child can go a very long way, so you have to trust your child they will listen to you and seek that help. If they don't, you have to take that initiative to help them.

"Keep talking. There may be news stories, television shows, situations with friends or community members, or things that occur at school related to self-harm, suicidal thoughts or depression. Use that opportunity to talk with your child about their thoughts and feelings. Stress the importance of coming to an adult if they or a friend experience thoughts of suicide. Those thoughts may be a symptom of a treatable mental health condition. They are not a weakness."

I find this method to be very important and a crucial way of letting your child know that you are there for them and willing to talk with them and go through anything that they are going through with them. This article does a great job of arguing the importance of parents being the first responder for their child, and I believe that is a great way of helping to navigate the rise of mental health problems in adolescents today.

This massive amount of data surrounding adolescent and teen mental health issues really summarizes the growing issue our society is having regarding teen mental health issues and the fact that something needs to be done in order to help our future generations.

"Statistics on teenage mental health reveal the intersectionality of various factors such as socioeconomic status, cultural norms, access to healthcare, and environmental stressors. This highlights the importance of considering diverse identities and experiences in addressing teen mental health disparities."

I find this piece very important because it tells the reader not to try to infer what someone is going through just by reading them for a short amount of time. You really have to inquire further and talk with them to find out. So many factors play into why someone may have a mental illness, and it's important to take everything into consideration, not just one or a few things.

"Family dynamics, peer relationships, school environment, and community support systems influence teen mental health. Positive social connections and supportive relationships can promote resilience, while adverse social experiences such as bullying, social isolation, or family conflict can contribute to mental health issues."

The people that surround us have a massive influence on the way we feel daily. By looking at the social dynamics one finds themself in can help us understand why they might be going through something relating to mental health problems.

That said, extended time spent using a screen can lead to symptoms of problematic screen dependence. This can include decreased academic performance, disrupted sleep patterns, social withdrawal, and an increased risk of mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. The normalization of screen use in today’s society presents challenges for parents, educators, and healthcare professionals in addressing teen screen dependence effectively."

Extended screen time and the rise of everything becoming digital can be seen as a negative to our society, especially adolescents who are now growing up with everything being online and available at their fingertips. It's a newer issue that needs to be looked at, and on top of that it can link to mental health issues, which is another reason it needs to be looked at and examined further (not just in the aspect that kids need to get off their devices and see the world).

This sets the foundation of why it is important to spread awareness of the situation. The fact that 90% of mental illnesses start before the age of 24 shows that so many of the adolescents and teens right now are going through something they don't know how to handle.

"The adolescent years are a time of significant emotional, hormonal, social, and physical growth. During these developmental years, children become more aware of their mortality. As a result, teens often feel they are trapped in an adult body, a different body, and want more control over how they feel and look. These feelings of not having control can lead to anxiety, depression, and actions labeled as self-cutting, gender exploration, or eating disorders. Many factors can contribute to mental health challenges in teenagers."

This quote shows us the many things that adolescents are going through, one of which being biological changes that the adolescent can't do anything about. These changes can affect things we can't even see until they just happen. Hormonal changes and puberty in general changes things that we wish we could change ourselves, yet we have no control over them. This then leads to a lot of awareness to the way we are and the way others perceive us, which can directly correlate to the mental illnesses listen in the quote.

"Today’s teens face more complex challenges than previous generations. Whether navigating the complexities of social media, learning to live in a world filled with violence, or struggling to succeed academically and professionally, it seems like the world has become more complex and stressful for adolescents."

I think this portion of the article explicitly points out something that some individuals would rather deny instead of accepting. The fact that everyone has access to the information that is occurring around the world, especially the negative ones, will only cause them to be more weary and afraid of the world. It makes it much harder to hide from the true atrocities of the world, which can cause higher rates of depression or anxiety due to these factors, something that may not have been as apparent in prior generations given their lack (or lesser) connection to those around the world.

"Knowing what mental health is and how it affects teens."

Though short, I think this quote encapsulates what everyone around the world needs to do. People need to learn about mental health and how it affects teens (and everyone in general).

I really find this initial sentence captivating because it brings light to the situation at hand and how society has not been focusing their efforts regarding mental health on a massive part of the community that struggles from mental health issues the most. Especially since adolescents are most likely the group that understands what is going on with them the least.

"These students were assessed for changes in mental health knowledge, stigmatization, and help-seeking intentions via a classroom activity, surveys, and teacher interviews....Its quasi-experimental design follows a single cohort of seventh and eighth grade students at an InSciEd Out partner public alternative school in the Midwestern U.S. ...the study school here voluntarily admits its ~ 350 students (grades 7–12) based on entrance criteria that include potential chemical dependence or mental health issues. These students are “at-risk” youth, defined as youth with diagnosed/diagnosable mental illness or who have a high likelihood of developing mental illness. The intervention was a 20-day anti-stigma classroom experience in the 2015–2016 school year. Intervention lessons replaced non-mental health focused lessons addressing selected state standards in science, math, and language arts. The intervention unit culminated with mentored science research projects based on student-driven questions in mental health."

This section gives a rundown of the experiment they ran along with the sample size and the sample of students. They wanted to see how much these students actually knew about mental illnesses and what they had been taught up to that point about those issues. This would prove their point that adolescents aren't really informed about these issues that they could be facing and how it is so important to educate the youth on these topics.

"Elimination of mental health misconceptions was accompanied by slight gains in mental health literacy and small to medium improvements in help-seeking intentions...Teacher narratives revealed positive teacher views of programming, increased student openness to talk about mental illness, and higher peer and self-acceptance of mental health diagnoses and help-seeking."

These results show us that educating students about mental health issues and how to combat them and deal with them increased their literacy and their willingness to advocate for themselves and seek the help that they need.

"Early and effective intervention is an undervalued tool for preventing or mitigating the negative, long-term consequences of poor health. Improved mental health for all can only be realized if affected individuals and their social support structures have sufficient literacy to recognize and understand mental illness, at least at a basic level. A necessary byproduct of this understanding is that stigma toward mental illness needs to decrease, or become eliminated, such that help-seeking is the norm rather than the exception. As such, anti-stigma interventions deserve heavy focus, particularly in high-risk populations."

This quote does a fantastic job at highlighting the importance of educating everyone regarding the stigma surrounding mental health. It shouldn't be a taboo subject that needs to be navigated around. Rather, it needs to be attacked head on and with full cooperation from everyone available.