According to a 2020 article from the World Health Organization, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in teenagers aged 15-19. About 20% of teens have mental health conditions and issues which remain undiagnosed and left untreated. Among all adolescents including teenagers, depression is one of the leading causes of death, on a global scale. Undiagnosed depression or anxiety can leave students feeling as if they are continually missing out on chances, which can culminate in substance addiction, behavior difficulties, additional mental health problems, and even suicide. Mental health has only been getting worse with time, and is now a major issue that needs to be addressed.
There are numerous reasons why mental health remains an issue for teenagers, most of which are not in their control. Adolescence is a time where a multitude of life changes occur, physical, mental, and emotional. Our bodies become more mature and our thoughts and opinions start to shift as we see and begin to understand the world. These factors alone create stress and pressure, namely the forces to want to fit into society and be judged well by peers.
Other factors that can cause mental health issues in teens are strained relationships and family issues at home. Domestic abuse and quality of life at home have proven to have had detrimental effects on mental health.
Another significant factor that largely affects mental health in teenagers is technology and the media. A late 2020 fall survey reported that 88% of teens use Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. Social media holds an extremely damaging effect on the mental health of teenagers because although many find comfort in connecting with others through social media, people tend to create false perceptions of themselves and believe that they need to do things to impress others.
Overall, mental health remains a standing issue to this day silently affecting people all around us. Still, leveraging technology is a great way to help with mental health. By connecting to other, like-minded people, you can find people that are going through the same things you are, and gain a support system. Knowing you are not alone is a key component of mental health. Platforms like spotivity that are designed to connect teens to other teens and activities take an age-old issue and support it with modern solutions.
Be sure to always stay aware of your mental health and check out spotivity for a great way to surround yourself with support.
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About Spotivity
Be #neverbored again by using the spotivity app and find activities that fit your needs. We help you find programing that can lead to your passion. Whether that is an art program to practice graffiti, a sports program to engage in competition, an education support class to improve your grades, or just finding someone to talk to – spotivity has your back. Backed by research and continually informed by users, spotivity is the tool to help you unlock your world and expand the list of options you can take advantage of.
