May is Mental Health Awareness Month

By Staff

Content Warning: Discussions of Mental Illness & Suicide Ideation. Please do not read this article if these subjects are upsetting to you or pose any risk of harm to yourself.

In 1949, Mental Health America named May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Every year, they promote awareness and offer resources for those struggling with their mental health. If you’ve checked your school email, you probably saw this month mentioned in the newsletter. In honor of this special month, this article will discuss all things mental health for those who need it.

Your Mental Health Issues Are Not Your Fault

Mental health issues are becoming increasingly prominent among teens. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 7 adolescents are experiencing some kind of mental disorder. In February, KFF reported that 1 in 5 adolescents suffer from depression. On top of this, Mental Health America has found that guilt is commonly associated with mental illnesses. However, mental illness is not your fault–it literally has to do with the chemicals in your brain. For anyone feeling guilty, here is a little explanation of the science behind the two most prominent mental health issues in teens–depression and anxiety–to show you that they are not your fault.

Depression (Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, etc.)

Oftentimes, depression occurs because of issues with serotonin reuptake in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that controls mood by sending messages from a presynaptic neuron to a receiving postsynaptic neuron. This serotonin is powered by energy called “action potential.” However, sometimes the serotonin being delivered to the postsynaptic neuron is reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron. This is a process known as serotonin reuptake. Essentially, this causes serotonin levels in the brain to drop, which can lead to depressive symptoms. Antidepressants in the class of SSRIS (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), such as Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft, work by preventing this process of serotonin reuptake and allowing serotonin levels in the brain to rise. This is why antidepressants in combination with therapy can be life changing for some people. Not all antidepressants are SSRIs. Another common class is SNRIS (Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors) which work in a similar way by preventing norepinephrine reuptake, a neurotransmitter and hormone that helps with cognitive function and stress regulation.

Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, PTSD, etc.)

Anxiety disorders are very diverse, but at a core level, they deal with the brain’s limbic system. The two pieces we will be discussing are the hippocampus and the amygdala. The hippocampus is a part of the limbic system that is responsible for regulating stress responses. The amygdala, on the other hand, is an evolutionary asset of the limbic system that is responsible for feelings of fear and panic symptoms such as heightened heart rate and blood pressure. A licensed marriage and family therapist has suggested that when we are anxious, we are thinking primarily with our amygdala, and we need to find a way to regulate our body so our hippocampus can work again. When we are stuck in a state of anxiety, our ability to judge situations and make decisions is impaired.

In sum, mental illness is not your fault. You didn’t choose it, and it’s okay to be upset. There are so many resources out there for you, you just have to use them. ♥️

You’re Not Alone

Mental illness can be a very isolating experience. To provide a little hope for anyone struggling, I want to share my story to show all of you that things do get better, and the world isn’t ending even when it feels like it is.

Content Warning: Suicide ideation, hospitalization. Please do not read further if these topics are upsetting for you or could pose any harm to you.

In November, I was facing constant anxiety about school. Over time, I found myself unable to sleep, eat, or focus on anything. I had lost almost fifteen pounds. By the time December began, my head was in a very dark space because I was terrified of facing each day. Amidst my hopelessness, I reached out to my mom, my biggest support. Soon after, I was hospitalized for suicide ideation.

The hospital felt like a nightmare. As a student that sets high standards for themself, I felt that I had hit rock bottom. This wasn’t a place where I felt like I belonged. I wish I had someone to tell me then, when I felt so alone, that it was okay for me to be where I was. I hope that in reading this, some of your stigma around hospitalizations can be erased. Psych hospitals can be scary, yes, but the people in them are real people struggling with big things. There’s no shame in needing this treatment. It’s also important to note that making jokes about these hospitals isn’t funny. There’s already very poor depictions in the media, such as “Demented Hills” in the first Goodburger movie, that causes so much stigma around these hospitals. No, they’re not idyllic places. But they are places where people go to get help. Making jokes about these people being “crazy” isn’t okay.

When I left the hospital, I immediately entered a six-week outpatient program for adolescents. I started medications that could help me and learned all about different strategies to cope with what I was feeling. I also received diagnoses that made what I was going through make more sense.

The process was up and down. My mom described it as taking one step forward and three steps back. This is simply because the healing process isn’t linear–and that’s okay. The most important thing is to cope when you are feeling low, and to remember that though healing isn’t easy, it is rewarding. It often felt easy to want to abandon the healing ship because I was so daunted, but I was lucky enough to have a family surrounding me that learned how to help me through these times.

It has been five months since my hospitalization, and I am feeling the best I have in a long time. I committed to a college I fell in love with for a major I adore, and I have started making friends with my future roommates. Even though I was once terrified of time passing and didn’t want to be around to see the future, I now find myself looking forward to so many things.

Long story short, the world doesn’t end when you feel like it is, or even when you want it to. Things do get better, even when you have no belief that they will. In addition, mental health issues can happen to anyone. I’m a straight-A student that has held leadership positions in multiple clubs, so nobody expected me to end up in the place I was at. Check up on your friends. If you are struggling right now, know that you won’t always feel this way. You can make it through this. Please, reach out.

Local Resources

Here are some local resources for you if you or someone you know is in need of help. You are loved.