Teens and mental health. It’s important, crucial really, to have conversations about mental health with young adults. The Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club, advised by Christine Guarino, hosted an amazing interactive program that provided education and resources to students regarding mental health.

Maria Idoni, the Hudson Valley/Westchester area director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (afsp.org), facilitated the gathering. She emphasized from the start that it is not a sign of weakness to talk about mental health and challenges someone may be having.

 

 

Mental health changes – it can be affected by many things including feelings and emotions, peer pressure, environmental factors, trauma, school, friends. One’s physical health can affect mental health.

 

“If you’re unhappy or stressed, your body can be nauseous, tired, overwhelmed,” she said. “Mental health is directly affected by physical health.”
She gave the example of someone with a physical injury who can’t do the things they love to do. That can cause depression.

Bullying, too, can cause depression and lead to catastrophic outcomes if someone feels hopeless and can’t deal with the pain..

 

Ms. Idoni noted that most teens feel more comfortable talking to their friends when they are feeling vulnerable. Some, though, may not, and keep their feelings private. She gave some conversation starters and parameters to help them talk if you notice a change in someone. It’s not an easy conversation.

• Start the conversation in private and don’t make a scene. Give them the opening
• Ask how they are on a scale on 1-10.
• Ask why they are having these issues and mention what you’ve noticed about changes in them. It shows you care.
• Let them talk.
• Give no judgment.
• Do not promise confidentiality. If they need help, you want to go to someone who can provide it.
• If someone talks of self-harm or abuse, they need help beyond a friend. Even if they get angry at you.
• Be direct – if you are concerned about suicide, ask them directly. You won’t be putting the thought into their head.
• Don’t tell them what they should do. You aren’t a therapist. Suggest they get help.

 

Someone with mental health issues as well as someone trying to help a friend navigate a tough mental health episode can call 988. If is confidential and available 24 hours a day.

Students were a big part of this conversation. Ms. Idoni tossed a ball to students to give them the opportunity to share. They talked of the importance of self-care. One student shared that playing soccer is great for him. The physical exercise helps and being with a community of people does too. After-school clubs also give a sense of community and belonging.

 

There is a wellness day happening this month for freshmen at PBHS and they will talk about many ways to maintain good mental health and keep anxiety manageable. Anxiety is a part of high school and college. Learning techniques to manage it is important, she said, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises and the benefit of sunshine every day.

Ms. Idoni, who has been talking to kids about mental health for the past 20 years, thanked the students for their openness and honesty, noting that this generation gives her hope for the future! And she did give some advice from her own personal experience.

“Sometimes doctors have a hard time asking if you’re okay mentally,” she noted as she shared her own journey and being dismissed by her doctor. “You have to be your own voice,”

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among US high school students in 2023:

• 40% reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year.
• 20% reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past year.
• 16% reported making a suicide plan in the past year.
• 9% reporting attempting suicide in the past year.
• 22% report drinking alcohol in the past 30 days.
• 17% report using marijuana in the past 30 days.
• 4% report misusing prescription pain medication in the past 30 days.
• 10% report ever using illicit drugs.
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents age 15-19, behind accidents and homicide.