Teenage Mental Health

In wake of the recent suicide on Lake Minneola High School campus, it is important that the parents of teenagers, as well as adolescents themselves, understand the emotions and thoughts that often go through their minds.

Often publicized and stereotyped in both modern and past media, there is always the teenage child who feels rejected by the world, angry, saddened, etc. Because of this common theme, many parents believe that it is just their child’s “teenage ways” and that they are just going through a phase. This happens so often that they do not even attempt to communicate with their offspring and the parents ignore the signs of actual depression. Even if the child does reach out to their parents, they blatantly ignore the signs so their (d)efficiency as a parent is not in question. “What more could a child with a roof over their head, clothes on their backs, and food in their mouths really ask for?” is a common theme in justification for parents dealing with emotionally struggling teenagers.

“When I was younger, I would try to tell my mom how I felt, and then she would punish me for me being sad. I think it was because I was complaining. Eventually I stopped trying to reach out and I started bottling things up,” Elmer Crosby said.

An important idea to throw out of the window in the comparison of someone else’s situation to another as a way to downplay the emotions being felt. Someone being mentally/physically/emotionally abused does not care about the “starving kids in Africa” or someone who has it worse. That DOES NOT resolve the initial person’s feelings. If anything, it adds to the feeling of loneliness and solitude.

“I hate when people try to say ‘Oh I bet there’s someone out there who has it worse”. Like OK but how does that apply to me. It doesn’t, which is why I don’t care,” Lakaze Hare said.

Parents, it is urgent you to actually TALK to your kids, listening will not kill you. Do not pass judgement on them.

Students, we also encourage you to talk to one another and reach out for help. Depression often stems from lack of attention or even too much negative attention. Parents, please watch the way you speak and interact with your kids. Even if they make you mad, insults do hurt and they do take a toll on your child, even if it’s something insignificant to you, it can be a major insecurity to your child. You may be tearing down their self esteem without even being fully aware of the magnitude of what you say.

If anyone reading this article is struggling emotionally, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. You are not alone.