Mental Health Essay Example: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

There is a stigma around mental health that makes it, in a way, a controversial topic to talk about. Society seems to be disapproving and shameful around people who live with a mental illness or seek the help they need to better themselves (Zoppi). It is a common misconception that mental health mainly targets adults, but that is not true. Nowadays mental illness is becoming more and more common amongst adolescents. If I were to give a very important speech or TED talk, it would be about the importance of prioritizing mental health amongst youth. 

It is estimated that about one in seven people in a group of adolescents struggles with their mental health. A lot of mental illnesses in youth go unnoticed or untreated (World Health Organization). Most teens refuse to speak up about their mental health because they are afraid of their voices being silenced or facing discrimination. If there are fewer conversations about mental health, the more people struggle and the bigger the stigma gets (National Alliance on Mental Health). Mental illnesses are not just feeling sad or feeling down. Adolescents who struggle with their mental health may also struggle in school. They potentially may also face issues with making good decisions and taking care of themselves. There may be emotional outbursts that could lead to social isolation. Habits that are formed while you are young often carry over into adulthood, making it important that you form healthy habits in terms of taking care of your brain (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Acknowledging mental health is important to me because I struggle with my own. Growing up, especially as a middle child, I have always felt a constant feeling of hopelessness and a sense of not belonging. It was not until high school that I acknowledged my mental health. I grew up bottling all of my emotions and thinking people would view me abnormally if I reached out for help. I had no idea that there were resources out there to help me until a tragedy in my community struck, and I know I am not the only one who has felt that way. 

Society makes being physically healthy such a big deal, why not do the same about mental health? Mental illness in adolescence is often just referred to as being “teen angst” and is ignored as what it is. Life is unpredictable. It is important to encourage teens to focus on the things in their life that they can control and to advocate for themselves. They need to know that is okay to ask for help and that it is okay to not be okay. 

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Mental Health | Adolescent and School Health.” CDC, 12 May 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/mental-health/index.htm. Accessed 1 February 2022.

National Alliance on Mental Health. “Helping Get Teens Talking About Mental Health.” NAMI, 6 March 2015, https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/March-2015/Helping-Get-Teens-Talking-About-Mental-Health. Accessed 1 February 2022.

World Health Organization. “Adolescent mental health.” WHO | World Health Organization, 17 November 2021, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health. Accessed 1 February 2022.

Zoppi, Lois. “Mental health stigma: Definition, examples, effects, and tips.” Medical News Today, 9 November 2020, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mental-health-stigma. Accessed 1 February 2022.