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4 Common Stigmas Surrounding Adolescent Mental Health

Picture of Stonewater Recovery By   ·  2 minute read
Research shows that many adolescents suffer from mental health problems, yet just a handful seek treatment. In most cases, they don't seek the care and support they need due to the deeply ingrained stigma that surrounds mental health treatment. However, when they don't get treatment, mental health disorders predispose teenagers to long-standing difficulties and can burden the family. It is critical to fight stigma and find adolescent mental health treatment for your loved ones. In addition, there is a need to uncover some of the negative attitudes associated with adolescent mental health problems. To accomplish both of these goals, reach out to Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center today at 662.373.2828.

What Are the Four Common Types of Stigma Surrounding Adolescent Mental Health?

At the core of stigma is a sense of feeling that someone is different from you and that the difference is negative. Common types of public mental health stigmas surrounding adolescent mental health include:

1. Teenagers Have Nothing to Be Depressed or Anxious About

Teenagers are at a phase in life when they are discovering a lot about themselves. While they might not have gone through a lot in life, that is not reason enough to assume that they have nothing to be depressed about. In any case, teens have to deal with school, friendships, relationships, and even part-time jobs. Besides, teens experience emotions more intensely than adults, making them susceptible to developing depression.

2. Teens with Mental Health Disorders Act a Certain Way for Attention

It can be easy to conclude that a teen is faking a mental disorder and seeking attention. In the real sense, the mental problem may not get the kind of attention they may want. After all, the prevalence of mental health stigmas and misconceptions among teens is less likely to make a healthy teenager pretend to have a mental disorder.

3. Teens with Mental Health Disorders Are Prone to Violence

It is possible for someone struggling with mental health disorders to be violent. However, it does not mean that all of those who suffer from mental health conditions are unquestionably violent.

4. Teens Don't Suffer from Mental Health Disorders, Just Moodiness.

Due to hormonal changes in adolescence, teenagers are often moody. However, this does not mean that teenagers cannot suffer from mental health disorders. When a teenager exhibits behaviors beyond normal teenage moodiness, it could be a sign of a mental health disorder.

How Can You End Stigma Around Adolescent Mental Health?

Addressing the stigma surrounding adolescents goes beyond awareness. It involves a deliberate understanding that no one is like the other and having candid conversations with your teenager in a bid to model love and acceptance. One way to break the stigma is to dispel myths about mental health. Education is crucial in combating teen mental health stigma. In this regard, education also refers to using the right terminology to refer to people suffering from mental disorders. Above all, parents and guardians must understand that mental health disorders are treatable and that teen mental health is part of the overall health of a person. Give your teens some context on mental health disorders. When a teenager hears someone they know or a famous person talk about their condition, it gives them a better understanding of the topic. At its core, stigma creates an "us" vs. "them" situation that can be self-defeating. But when teens see someone who has suffered and overcome a mental health disorder, they become hopeful.

Seek Help at Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center

If your loved one struggles with a mental health disorder, professionals at Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center can help. Our comprehensive treatment program addresses a wide range of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and bipolar disorder. Services in our treatment program include: Let us support your teen down the road to recovery. Contact Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center today at 662.373.2828 to learn more about our adolescent mental health treatment program.