Learning About Mental Health & Ilnesses

One of the most important aspects of mental health, whether it’s involving yourself or others, is having the correct and accurate information about it. There are many different kinds of mental illnesses that affect teenagers everywhere. Some of these include

 
• Anxiety disorders
 
• Mood disorders
 
• Psychotic disorders
 
• Eating disorders
 
• Impulse control and addiction disorders
 
• Personality disorders
 
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
 
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
 
• Dissociative disorders
 
• Sexual and gender disorders
 
• Tic disorders

Other aspects of mental health that are important to consider are the warning signs. Some concerning behaviours include:

 
• Decrease in enjoyment and time spent with friends and family
 
• Significant decrease in school performance
 
• Strong resistance to attending school or absenteeism
 
• Problems with memory, attention or concentration
 
• Big changes in energy levels, eating or sleeping patterns
 
• Physical symptoms eg. stomach aches, headaches, backaches
 
• Feelings of hopelessness, sadness, anxiety, crying often
 
• Frequent aggression, disobedience or lashing out verbally
 
• Excessive neglect of personal appearance or hygiene
 
• Substance abuse
 
• Dangerous or illegal thrill-seeking behaviour
 
• Is overly suspicious of others
 
• Sees or hears things that others do not