Mental Health Awareness Among Youth: We Need To Talk About This

When someone asks you “How are you?” you probably say “I’m fine.”. Are you really fine?

If you ask people how they are doing they usually say “I’m fine” really quickly.

Sometimes things are not that simple.

Young people today have to deal with a lot of pressure. They have to worry about school their careers, what people think of them on social media what their families expect from them and their friendships. Even their own thoughts can be a lot to handle.

We are more connected to each online but a lot of young people feel really alone emotionally.

This is why we need to talk about health awareness. It is really important.

We cannot ignore this conversation anymore.

What is mental health really?

Mental health is not about being sick. It is about how we think, how we feel and how we behave every day.

It affects how we deal with stress how we make decisions how we get along with others and how we feel about ourselves.

Like our bodies our minds can be strong or weak. And just like we take care of our bodies when we are sick we need to take care of our minds

Why are young people affected much today?

Young people are growing up in a world that is moving fast. There are a lot of opportunities. There is also a lot of pressure.

1. School can be really tough.

There is a lot of stress about grades, exams and comparing yourself to others. Some students feel like they are only good if they get grades.

2. Social media can be bad for us.

It only shows the things about other peoples lives. This can make us feel like we are not good enough.

3. We are afraid of failing.

A lot of people are scared to make mistakes because they think that failing is the end of the world.. Failing is just a part of learning.

4. We do not talk about our feelings

In a lot of homes and schools people do not talk openly about health. This makes young people hide their emotions.

Sometimes people are. We cannot even tell.

Here are some signs that someone might be struggling with their health:

Feeling sad for a long time

not wanting to do things they used to enjoy

thinking too much about small things

having trouble sleeping

feeling tired all the time

getting angry or upset easily

avoiding friends or social activities.

If you see these signs in yourself or someone else it does not mean that there is something with them. It just means they need some help.

The biggest problem is that we do not talk about our feelings.

A lot of people think that no one will understand them or that they will be judged. So they keep everything inside.

Our emotions do not just disappear when we ignore them. They build up. Eventually we need to let them out.

Talking about our feelings is not weak. It is actually really brave.

How can we help people with their mental health?

We need to take action.

1. We need to listen to them without judging.

Sometimes people just need someone to listen to them. We can make a difference just by being there for them.

2. We need to make it okay to talk about our feelings.

Talking about stress or sadness should be as normal as talking about having a fever.

3. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others.

Everyones life is different. We cannot compare our lives to someone.

4. We need to take breaks and rest.

Resting is not lazy. It is necessary for our minds to be healthy.

5. We need to ask for help when we need it.

Talking to a counselor or a trusted adult is a thing. It is not something to be ashamed of.

Taking care of ourselves is not selfish.

It is necessary.

We can take care of ourselves by:

taking breaks from media

sleeping well

eating well

spending time with people who care about us

doing things we enjoy.

Taking care of our minds is just as important as taking care of our bodies.

We need to change the way we think about health.

That world can start with us.

Conclusion

Mental health is not a trend or a phase. It is a part of life.

We need to keep talking about health.

Mental health, among people is not something we can ignore.

It is happening now in our schools, homes and online.

The powerful change can start with a simple conversation.

Because sometimes all someone needs is to know that they are not alone.

So time someone asks you “How are you?” maybe you can say the truth.

Not I’m fine.”

I’m trying… And I could use someone to talk to.”