Running head: IT’S OKAY, TO NOT BE OKAY 1

It’s Okay, To Not Be Okay: An Analysis of Teen Mental Health

Allison J. Karpovich

Legal Studies Academy

First Colonial High School

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Abstract

In this paper, the author analyzes the importance of mental health in teens and breaking the

stigma through many aspects. Starting with the common diagnoses of depression and anxiety

being followed by legal action through court cases, codes, and oversees implementation. The

author then expands on the ability to recognize signs of mental illness through education and

ends with how the stigma around mental illness prevents so many from getting the help they

need and deserve.

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It’s Okay, To Not Be Okay: An Analysis of Teen Mental Health

Introduction

“Approximately one in five teens (aged 12 to 18) suffer from at least one mental health

disorder” (Polaris Teen Center, 2018). This statistic is no doubt shocking for all to read and

comprehend. Mental health importance is now becoming a huge conversation around the world

as people find out new things day in and day out. As millions raise awareness of the importance

of mental health (especially in teens) and breaking the stigma towards getting help, legal

protections are at a standstill.

Common Diagnoses

While there are many possible mental health diagnoses, two take the lead in frequency

when it comes to teenagers. Depression and anxiety are the two most common mental disorders

among the younger generations(Penn Medicine, 2018). Over time these diagnoses have increased

drastically due to numerous factors, whether it be stress, lack of sleep, certain medications, or

chemical imbalances in the brain. There are many factors that take part in the development of

mental illnesses but in order to understand them, one must be educated on the topic.

Depression

The Centre for Clinical Intervention produced an article about depression and how it is

extremely likely to become a never-ending cycle if not treated. According to the source, one can

often recognize themselves falling into a depressive state if they begin to lack the motivation to

do the things they love in life. Oftentimes this lack of motivation is caused by being more tired

than usual due to less sleep. Once one stops doing the things he or she enjoys because they’re
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tired, they then begin to feel guilty for not doing said things. Guilt then sends one farther down

the rabbit hole which leaves them in a never-ending cycle of depression. The ability to recognize

these features in life is extremely important in order to avoid the vicious cycle of depression.

Knowing what to do once someone recognizes the signs is just nearly as important. One can stop

themselves from falling into depressive episodes by consulting a doctor and receiving

antidepressants. Unfortunately, there are many reasons people do not seek medical assistance,

one of which, being the stigma around getting help with mental health issues. That being said,

there are still ways to help with depression that don’t include narcotics. Simply taking walks,

baths, or trips to the beach and/or movies often helps immensely. These simple actions cause the

affected person to begin to be active again. The increased activity builds confidence and

hopefulness in someone which in turn improves depression (The Vicious, n.d.).

Anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder diagnoses have been rising in teens steadily since 2007.

According to the National Institutes of Health, around one in every three teens ages 13-18 will

fall victim to an anxiety disorder (McCarthy, 2019). Anxiety can be described as a constant

concern about everyday events such as money, family, and work. While all of those aspects play

a part in anxiety, the never-ending worry about the potential of disaster takes the number one

spot as the most common distractor. Commonly, people tell those with anxiety that they are just

overreacting, but, this does nothing for them and potentially worsens their concerns. It is

extremely challenging for those with anxiety to attenuate their stress despite recognizing it’s “no

big deal.” Some of the simple causes of anxiety are stress, adversity, and genetics. Stress and

childhood adversity often lead to anxiety later on in life because of the induced worry and
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concerns placed on one at a young age (Generalized Anxiety, 2008). Scientists believe that the

intensifying pressure on the younger population to succeed as well as social media are playing

huge parts in the development of anxiety today. When college students were asked if they felt

overwhelmed 41% of the students said “yes” in 2016 (McCarthy, 2019). The implementation of

standardized testing in school is a massive factor when it comes to teens worrying about success.

As a student myself, I can attest to the fact that students are branded with letters based on how

well they retain information compared to others taking the same test without any regard to

individual differentiation, whether it be learning style or effectiveness of teaching. This causes

students to stress immensely on tests they believe will decide their future when in reality, they

don’t. Anxiety is also caused by some of the most infamous social media networks because they

connect millions of people together but not always in a good way. Some of the most popular

social media platforms have become very toxic to the mental health of teens around the world.

When it comes to worrying about how many people like a picture to having to delete hateful

comments or DM’s one's self-esteem can reach a significant low point. This induces anxiety as

well as depression in the younger users found across all countries. In efforts to calm anxiety,

people will resort to using alcohol or drugs as a scapegoat. The use of these alternatives provides

temporary relief but long term consequences. People often develop addictions and hinder their

ability to practice healthy coping skills. In order to prevent these effects, going to see a

professional is recommended. Doctors can provide medications proven to help ease anxiety, but

again it is common that people do not seek medical attention because of stigmas surrounding

mental health. If one does not wish to seek medical attention then yoga, meditation, exercise, or

simply relaxing also help.

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Legal Aspect

Today the legal system falls short when it comes to being properly educated and trained

on the topic of mental health. Mental health as a whole has started to become a common topic in

discussion over the past few years. Although this is fantastic, the issue now faced by the public is

the lack of laws to protect those experiencing mental illnesses. While it is possible to find certain

laws in different states pertaining to mental health, there is nothing that solidifies the overall

protection of everyone experiencing mental illness. This is extremely important and due to that,

changes must be implemented fairly soon.

The Influential Case

The case ​P.P. et. al. v. Compton Unified School District ​is exceedingly important when it

comes to the protection of those experiencing mental health issues. The issues in the ​P.P. et. al.

v. Compton Unified School District​ cases are “does repeated exposure to trauma be regarded as a

disability qualifying a student for support under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act

and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and whether or not districts serving student

populations with widespread exposure to trauma provide school wide support?”(Casetext, 2015).

In this case, many students have come forward stating the various traumas they faced throughout

their lifetime. The trauma the students faced, the plaintiffs say, hinders their ability to learn in

every way possible. The trauma in question is as follows:

● Plaintiff Peter P. was repeatedly physically and sexually abused by his mother's

boyfriends and witnessed physical abuse of his siblings and mother.

● Plaintiff Peter P. reports that he watched as his best friend was shot and killed.

● Plaintiff Peter P. was stabbed with a knife while trying to protect a friend.
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● Plaintiff Peter P. reports that he has witnessed over twenty people being shot.

● Plaintiff Kimberly Cervantes was sexually assaulted on the bus on her way home from

school.

● Plaintiff Phillip W. estimates that he has witnessed more than twenty people being shot,

one of whom was a close friend who died when shot in the head.

● Plaintiff Virgil W. witnessed his father pointing a gun at his mother.

● A stranger attempted to stab Plaintiff Donte J. and his friends when they were standing in

front of the Whaley Middle School campus.

● Plaintiff Donte J. was arrested by police at gunpoint on the school campus when he was

mistaken for someone else.

● Plaintiff Donte J. was attacked by four people on his way to school(Casetext, 2015)

All the listed trauma alone, experienced and witnessed, is surly enough to affect one's mental

health and the list continues. Plaintiff Peter had previously been a student who received high

grades in difficult honors classes but as a result of trauma, his school performance fell. Due to

his trauma, Peter also became angry and began showing aggressive behavior which led to his

suspension multiple times. These events were similar to the other plaintiffs in the case and when

they reached out for help, they felt as though they were receiving none. Being in the city of

Compton, violence was in some ways expected which is why it was important for schools to be

trauma-sensitive (Casetext, 2015). Trauma sensitive schooling involves but is not limited to:

(1) training educators to recognize, understand, and proactively recognize and address the

effects of complex trauma, in part through building students' self-regulation and

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social-emotional learning skills; (2) developing restorative practices to build healthy

relationships and resolve conflicts peacefully and avoid re-traumatizing students through

the use of punitive discipline; and (3) ensuring consistent mental health support is

available to appropriately meet student needs (Casetext, 2015).

The plaintiffs proclaimed that the Compton Unified School District (CUSD) failed to be

trauma-sensitive which contributes to the student’s actions. The plaintiffs wished that the CUSD

recognized this and also sought out support through them but also wished that the courts looked

to the American Disabilities Act as well as the Rehabilitation Act when taking into consideration

the rights and protections the students experiencing mental health illnesses and trauma should

receive (Casetext, 2015). This case points out the flaws America faces when laws to protect

those with mental illnesses are not implemented.

Virginia Laws

According to the Code of Virginia § 37.2-312.2 Commonwealth Mental Health First Aid

Program should provide “training by certified trainers of individuals residing or working in the

Commonwealth on how to identify and assist individuals who have or may be developing a

mental health or substance use disorder or who may be experiencing a mental health or substance

abuse crisis.” The training should be focused on teaching the public to understand and respond

adequately to the signs portrayed by someone with a mental illness or substance abuse issues.

The training should also include teaching those how to assist individuals experiencing substance

abuse problems or mental illnesses. This can be accomplished by comforting, supporting, and

leading those to professionals if deemed necessary, and of course, promote recovery

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(Commonwealth of Virginia, 2016). This code is a promising look into the future of protecting

those with mental illnesses as well as educating the public on how to recognize and help those in

need. This code, however, was written back in 2016 and because information regarding mental

health as a whole has changed, new implications and additions must be made to be sure everyone

is equally protected.

Implementation Across Seas

In Wales, the government has begun using “The Guide Cymru” to expand mental health

literacy among adolescents. The program is offered at all 205 secondary schools in Wales and

available for students. This program has been adjusted to meet the needs of certain ages and is

used to inform the younger generation of mental health. In order to test whether or not the

implementation of the guide was effective, student’s scores on knowledge post 12 weeks and 24

weeks will be compared to their baseline scores from the beginning (Simkiss, 2020). The

addition of “The Guide Cymru” to schools in Wales is sure to improve the education and

understanding of mental illness. From breaking the stigma to recognizing signs and getting help,

the new program is teaching students in Wales what students all around the world deserve to

know.

Recognizing Mental Health Problems

The mental health of teens is becoming more and more important each and every day.

According to the World Health Organization, around half of the mental health issues seen today

originate at the age of 14 but goes unnoticed. Mental health impacts adolescents' lives on a daily

basis all across the globe. Depression again alone is one of the leading reasons that adolescents

face disabilities all around the world (Kessler et al.,2020). Being able to recognize certain signs
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someone may be experiencing mental health issues alone can potentially be life-saving. In order

to do this people must understand exactly what it is that he or she is looking for.

Signs of Mental Illness

Captain Wayne Handley of the Norfolk Police Department and head of the Critical Incident

Stress Management Team said:

If I were to ask ‘How could you tell if one of your friends was depressed?’ more often

than not I would get a response along the lines of the said friend being sad or not trying

when it comes to school or getting dressed which in all cases isn’t wrong but sometimes

doesn’t apply. What many don’t take into consideration is what if their friend was already

like that; they didn’t try in school, showed up in pj’s 4 days of the week, and always

seemed to not want to be there.

This circumstance stumps many individuals because they don’t realize not all signs are

bad, and what they are really looking for is a change in behavior. The following are some simple

signs of mental illness anyone could recognize based on someone's behavior.

Obvious signs

Oftentimes signs will arise that are clear indicators that someone is experiencing

symptoms of mental illness. More often than not these signs are simply ignored because we do

not notice them due to a lack of education. Signs include:

● Drastic changes in mood, behavior, or personality

● Changes in academic performance (good or bad)

● Withdrawing or forcing themselves into social interactions

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● Changes in eating habits

● Difficulty sleeping

● Persistent sadness- two or more weeks (Mayo Clinic, 2020)

Someone should never self diagnose others unless you have the credentials to do so but being

educated and recognizing the signs is a big part of the process. If signs are recognized,

mentioning them, and offering help or suggesting professional help can truly save someone's life.

Breaking The Stigma Against Receiving Help

What is a Stigma?

“Stigma, in general, is conceptualized as a feeling of disgrace, shame, and self-blame that

results in social exclusion, isolation, and embarrassment” (Ahmed, 2020). Stigmas often form

due to a lack of education and/or understanding of a certain topic. Stigmas generally affect a

large amount of people who have any affiliation with a certain topic. In this case, the stigma

surrounding getting help when it comes to mental health can be very intimidating and it affects

countless amounts of people. “The stigma is often divided in two forms; public stigma and

self-stigma. Public stigma is described as the attitude and reaction of the general population

towards people with mental illnesses while self-stigma corresponds to the internalized shame,

guilt and poor self-image caused by acceptance of the societal prejudice” (Ahmed, 2020).

Who Does it Affect Most?

The stigma places a mark of disgrace on people who are attempting to reach out for help.

Getting help for mental health reasons is severely looked down upon by so many in the United

States due to lack of information. Many people believe that mental health is an awful burden and

if one must get help for it then he or she must be disqualified for certain jobs and considered
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“lower” than the “regular” individuals. In reality, there is no such thing as a regular individual as

we all face our own challenges and it's common that many people simply couldn't prevent mental

health issues because they have been caused by chemical imbalances.

Conclusion

The ever-growing topic of mental health importance in teens is here to stay and protections

should come with it. All in all, it is important for everyone to be educated when it comes to

mental illness because it affects vast amounts of people all across the globe. Depression, anxiety,

and mental health stigmas recently increased prevalence has caused changes around the world.

Through court cases and law codes, to overseas programs, one can see that new implementation

has fallen behind.

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References

Ahmed, W. (2020). Interventions to Reduce Stigma Related to Mental Illnesses in

Educational Institutes: a Systematic Review [Scholarly Journal]. Psychiatric Quarterly.

Casetext. (2015, September 29). P.P. v. Compton Unified Sch. Dist. Casetext. Retrieved

September 14, 2020, from https://casetext.com/case/pp-v-compton-unified-sch-dist-3

Commonwealth of Virginia. (2016). § 37.2-312.2. Commonwealth Mental Health First

Aid Program. Virginia Law Legislative Information System. Retrieved November 25, 2020,

from https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title37.2/chapter3/section37.2-312.2/

Generalized Anxiety Disorder. (2008). Hazelden Foundation.

Kessler, R., Angermeyer, M., & Anthony, J. (2020, September 28). Adolescent mental

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