Research indicates the human brain continues to develop throughout adolescence. In particular, the area of the brain associated with complex reasoning, thinking before acting and decision-making is not fully developed until the mid-twenties. The development of mental illness during this natural process of brain growth is an unfortunate possibility. This means that there is, at…
The adolescent years have always been seen as a time when teens often pull away from their parents, develop their identities and assert their independence. But the unprecedented rate of depression, stress and anxiety among modern teens indicates they are facing unique challenges that require new and effective ways for improving the situation. What is…
For adolescents dealing with mental illness, one of the most challenging aspects can be overcoming the stigma associated with it. According to a study by the Association for Psychological Science, shame and disgrace are significant factors preventing people from seeking mental health treatment. The Problem of Mental Illness Stigma Stigma is not the only obstacle…
Good parents want to help their children experience the best in life. But sometimes it is difficult to know how to help, especially during adolescence. The teen years are ordinarily challenging enough on their own, but when mental health issues are present, they are even more complicated. 1. Pay Attention to Behaviors If you begin…
Information from the National Alliance on Mental Illness indicates that approximately one in five people in the United States—approximately 43.8 million people—experiences mental illness in a given year. Additional statistics demonstrate that substance abuse is on the rise, with 23.5 million Americans addicted to alcohol and drugs. These statistics are certainly alarming. But what happens…
Adolescents face some unique challenges. Of course, the teen years aren’t all bad, but they are a formative stage of life, and growing into adulthood can bring stresses from many directions. For an alarming number of teens, these challenges can result in mental health issues and substance abuse. Approximately twenty percent of adolescents have a…
PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, has been a hot-button issue for the past decade and more as Gulf War, and now Iraq War, veterans have returned to their families back home in the States with symptoms of the mental disorder. However, PTSD in soldiers and other veterans is not a new occurrence, as battlefield trauma…
Teens who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are prone to substance use disorder (SUD). With substance abuse rates at 13% and 21% in girls and boys respectively, being aware of the dangers of SUD is important. The occurrence of co-morbid disorders, such as ADHD and SUD, can make treatment challenging. Treating adolescents with…
How many times have you heard that drugs ruin lives? By this point, probably too many to count. We hear it on television, at school, from parents, the internet, and sometimes we even see it unfold before our very eyes. Despite this, for centuries mankind has constructed a malfunctioning, mental stance from which we process…
A Co-occurring disorder, often referred to as a dual diagnosis disorder, is a condition in which an individual who is suffering with a chemical addiction also has a co-existing mental disorder. Until recently, it has been the practice of the mental health industry to treat co-occurring disorders separately. However, a surge in pragmatic and empirical…