Approximately 13% of youth live with a serious mental health condition, and only about 20% get the treatment they need.
“The biggest contributor to poor mental health is poor sleep habits. Teens need 8-12 hours of sleep a night. Two contributors to poor sleep habits are overwhelming academic schedules and social media,” said Susan Parmelee, a licensed clinical social worker and founder and executive director of the Wellness & Prevention Center (WPC).
This year, 56.1% of youth with major depression did not receive any mental health treatment because they think they can handle it on their own, worry about what others will think, or don’t know where to get treatment.
“Knowing when to ask for help is huge, and while it can be scary to be vulnerable, the only way people know what is going on with us is if we tell them. No one can deal with everything on their own,” said Sophii Sandoval, a licensed clinical social worker and clinical director at the WPC.
Going to therapy has proven to help teens overcome mental health challenges.
Whitney Shady (12) has been going to therapy off and on to help her cope with anxiety since fourth grade.
“I love my therapist. In the beginning, it was scary, but after building that connection and trust with my therapist, it’s something I look forward to because I’m able to calm down, relax, and take a break from the world,” said Shady.
Since she started going to therapy, Shady has seen a huge difference in her mental health.
“I feel a lot more at ease and calm. I am able to take things better and deal with problems easier when I’m seeing a therapist. When I am not seeing one, everything is just so overwhelming and I don’t know how to deal with and process my emotions,” said Shady.
Peyton Esparza (12) began attending therapy during her freshmen year due to her struggles with anxiety.
“I would be so stressed thinking about going to school and having to interact with people,” said Esparza.
Once she started going to therapy, her anxiety improved significantly and she learned how to cope with her emotions.
“I felt really alone and going to therapy helped ease those feelings and make me feel less stressed about going to school. Now, I look forward to going to school because I get to see my friends,” said Esparza.
Moth Golba (11) started going to therapy six years ago due to their parents’ divorce.
“I started seeing a therapist to help work through my feelings, to be heard, and allowed to express myself in a comfortable environment. It really helps with the mental toll of depression,” said Golba.
By going to therapy, teens can learn skills that help them cope with their mental health issues. These skills are essential for someone dealing with major depression episodes (MDE).
In the past year in the U.S., 20.17% of youth suffered from at least one MDE, and 15% experienced an MDE that impacted their ability to function properly.
“I was able to look at myself before I fell into major episodes, see what was happening, and know what to do in order to prevent them from happening,” said Golba.
Therapy is extremely beneficial, but seeing results takes effort and time.
“You have to go at least three or four times to see if it starts to work. I’ve gotten so much better and I’ve gotten off meds but it takes work,” said Golba.
While it can be scary to try new things and make life changes, it is work that is worthwhile. And lastly, it is okay to get help, if anything, it will make you stronger.
If you need help with your mental health, email info@www.wpc-oc.org or call WPC at 949-482-0527.
Crisis Prevention Hotline:
(877) 7-CRISIS or (877) 727-4747
