The Youth Mental Health Crisis: Today’s 800-Pound Gorilla

By Valene Ayar

In 1977, the medical community abandoned the biomedical model used in healthcare since its genesis for a more comprehensive one which better encapsulates the picture of health—the biopsychosocial model.

Over the last half-century, countless studies have proven that overall health is dictated by more than just biology. As the name “biopsychosocial” suggests, our psychology and social lives factor in just as much.

While we understand this on a theoretical level, we seem to forget it on a practical one. In our everyday lives, we still seem to discount the importance of mental health to our overall well-being.

There is a great deal of stigma surrounding the topic of mental health and because of that, it is often unaddressed. This has had repercussions on our collective well-being as mental health issues only seem to be trending upward at an astronomical rate. Especially affected are the under-25 crowd.

What is mental health?

Before we can discuss how to promote good mental health, we first need to define it.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines mental health as “our emotional, psychological and social well-being.”

Mental health dictates every sphere of our daily lives and seriously affects our futures. From our ability to learn new things, our school/work performance, relationships, self-esteem, physical health, personal hygiene, and overall sense of well-being, there is not a single aspect of our existence that is not affected by our mental health.

Unfortunately, though, it is often neglected and pushed to the bottom of our list of priorities when, in fact, it should be at the very top. This is particularly true of our younger generation.

The Surgeon General’s advisory

In December 2021, the US Surgeon General released an advisory entitled Protecting Youth Mental Health. It is worth noting that the Surgeon General only releases these advisories in the direst of circumstances and health crises, ones that require immediate awareness and intervention.

Mental health issues among today’s youth have been described as the new public health concern. In the last 30 years, we have moved from the dangers of drunk driving, teen pregnancy, and smoking to serious mental health issues.  Among those issues, self-harm and suicide rates are extremely prevalent.

The CDC reports that suicide rates are on the rise nationwide after almost 2 years of decline. Reports say there has been a sharp increase in ER visits since 2019 for patients between 10 to 24 years of age being treated for anxiety, mood disorders, and self-harm. According to those same sources, suicide rates have risen by a staggering 60 percent since 2018 among that same age group.

While this information is not very uplifting, it needs to be addressed to drive home the severity of the epidemic we are facing. And it only seems to be getting worse. Because this is an issue many do not like to discuss, it requires some cold, hard truths to garner the attention and gravitas it deserves.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. I come offering solutions to combat this issue.

An ounce of prevention

It is universally understood that when it comes to physical ailments, preventing disease through good choices and a healthy lifestyle is far better than treating it after its onset.

It is no different with mental health.

While there are genetic components connected to several mental illnesses, there are far greater environmental ones at play. Simply having a predisposition to mental illness does not automatically lead to a diagnosis. Often, this “nature” component can remain completely dormant in a person throughout their entire life, provided there is a good “nurture” component to offset it. That’s where you come in.

Prepare U

There are many resources online which give invaluable information and guidance for parents looking to promote good mental health practices. One resource rises above others.

The Prepare U Mental Health Curriculum, created by leading experts in mental healthcare, technology, and research, is a breakthrough in mental health and SEL education. Strongly supported by leaders of both the Canadian Psychological Association and American Psychological Association, Prepare U began locally in Michigan, and has been successfully implemented in school districts across North America.

This nationally recognized program is the first-ever evidence-supported experiential mental health course deployed in schools and delivered by everyday educators. They are saving lives and reducing the effects of trauma, anxiety, and stress while igniting sparks of personal growth, family health, and community engagement.

Through its programs for schools, communities, and families, Prepare U’s multi-faceted approach to delivering mental health education and resources is unprecedented. They are arming adolescents and their support systems with the tools necessary to combat everyday challenges including addiction, the effects of social media, and interpersonal relationships through learning self-care, boundary setting, and emotional growth.

One of the programs Prepare U offers, “The Home Edition,” is designed as a self-paced course to provide structure and help facilitate difficult conversations around mental health between adolescents and their loved ones. Packed with a library of resources and a “self-care zone,” it has been utilized by families and communities who feel safer in the comfort of their own home to make breakthroughs in their life and relationships.

Empowering our youth

This latest epidemic is not what many of us grew up with; that is to be expected. Every generation has its own climate and issues of the day. To ignore this fact of life spells doom for our current families and for future generations.

Ignoring these issues will not make them go away. In fact, ignorance will only exacerbate them. We need to educate ourselves on these matters because with great knowledge comes great power. And in this unpredictable world we are living in, we can use all the power we can possibly get.

Valene Ayar is a freelance writer and can be contacted at valene@thewritingwarrior.com. More information on Prepare U can be accessed at prepareu.live. Editor’s Note: Kevin’s Song, Michigan’s largest conference on suicide prevention and awareness, is celebrating its tenth year. More information may be found at kevinssong.org.