Teen mental health has been a topic of discussion for decades but has only become so widely discussed in recent years. The struggle to balance academic, personal, work and activity related stress has caused teens mental health to suffer greatly. The pressure to excel at everything, all the time has led to teens seeking outside help to manage their mental health.

In recent years, prominent organizations within teens’ communities such as schools, religious centers and sports teams have made it a focus to prioritize teenagers’ mental health. However, the stigma around mental well-being is still very present, oftentimes making it difficult for those who need help to ask for it. For so long, the culture in America had built up the idea that people should keep their mental health to themselves—that it’s a private thing, not to be shared. Teenagers have even expressed fear towards the idea of having to tell someone about their mental struggles however necessary it may be. So what are the first steps in asking for help? And where do you go after that?

Finding the right coping strategy can be difficult, made even more so by the stigma surrounding asking for help. The easiest strategy is simple, an activity like deep breathing can be a very effective way to calm yourself and can be very effective in calming anxieties, grounding yourself and staving off panic attacks. Other strategies that can be done independently are meditation, exercise and taking time for yourself away from your responsibilities. More intensive methods like therapy can come in many forms such as clinical face-to-face or virtual talk therapy, art therapy and family or couples therapy and even simply talking to a trusted individual.

“Research suggests that mental health treatment (e.g., therapy) helps improve the assertiveness, communication, mood, coping skills, emotional regulation, self-awareness, self-confidence, self-esteem, sense of empathy, and social/emotional problem-solving skills of teens with mental health concerns” said Dr. Charneco, one of the school psychologists.

While numerous types of therapy are available, a student at Madison has found talk therapy to be helpful to them.

“I started therapy because my mom noticed symptoms of anxiety in middle school. We ended up realizing I also had depression,” an anonymous student said. Their journey through therapy helped them discover the reasons behind their struggles and get to the root of their problems.

“I am not currently in therapy, but I would definitely do therapy again,” the same anonymous source said. “I thought it was helpful to talk about my problems with someone who I knew would listen, didn’t already know me, and wouldn’t share my information. It helped me organize my thoughts and get to the root of my problems.”

This student encourages everyone who is going through hard times to speak up for themselves. “I recommend first talking to your doctor, who can listen and refer you to a good therapist in the area. Remember that everyone struggles and seeking help is a strong thing to do!”