Growing up is an intricate process. Adolescents have their own set of challenges and struggles.

As we approach our teenage years, we have the pressure to do well in school, be liked, have a
social circle, live up to our family's expectations, and make some of the biggest decisions.
Negative feelings caused by these pressures might lead to depression; feelings of worthlessness
and inadequacy. Family di culties, the death of a loved one, or perceived failures at school or in
relationships may trigger depression. A teen's depression makes problems seem overwhelming
and the associated pain unbearable, but the pressures are unavoidable, and worrying about them
is natural. Depression cannot be diagnosed with any speci c medical test. Health care
professionals diagnose depression by interviewing the teen and conducting psychological tests
with their peers, teachers, and family members..Based on the assessment of these interviews, the
severity of teen depression and the risk of suicide are determined, and treatment
recommendations are formulated based on the ndings. in her TED talk, clinical psychologist and
neuroscientist Dr. Rosalinde Kaiser stated that one in three people will experience clinical
depression within their lifetimes. A staggering two and a quarter million people die from
depression and related illnesses every year. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15
to 19-year-olds. We do not know if depression will strike a speci c individual. Globally, mental
health issues a ect 10-20% of children and adolescents. Despite their importance as a leading
cause of health-related disability in this age group and their long-term e ects, adolescents'
mental health needs are neglected. We undergo profound brain, cognitive, and social
development during our teenage years. As a result of failing to address adolescent mental health
conditions, the consequences can extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental
health and reducing opportunities for people to lead ful lling lives. Researchers found that only 41
percent of Indian teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 think it is bene cial to receive support
for mental health issues, compared to 83 percent across 21 other countries. Children and their
families in India seem reluctant to seek support for mental stress. This emphasizes that mental
health in India needs immediate attention. The issues should be addressed openly. The study, by
Dr. J. Michael Murphy, EdD, and colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital, examined
school-based mental health programs that were implemented on a large scale and that collected
data on speci c mental health outcomes. Based on available research, there is "moderate to
strong" evidence that these interventions promote good mental health and related outcomes for
children. Over the past decade, at least 27 million children have received services from the eight
largest programs. Approximately 10-20% of children and adolescents experience mental health
conditions, according to WHO, but the majority of them do not seek care. Half of all mental health
disorders are diagnosed at least 14 years old. As rightly pointed out in the recommendations of
the National Mental Health Survey 2016, "The funding for mental health programs needs to be
streamlined with good planning, increased allocation, performance-based timely disbursal,
guaranteed complete utilization, and robust mechanisms for oversight and accountability." Even
modern-day government initiatives like the National Education Policy 2020 focus on "Fit India",
wanting to make youngsters active regarding their physical health. While both physical and mental
health deserves attention, the latter needs dedicated schemes and an enhanced priority. Good
mental health is important for healthy teenage development, strong relationships, and resilience.

Furthermore, schools and educational institutions must re ect on how they can provide safe
spaces for their students. They have the power to determine if and how adolescents receive
mental health care. In the present day, not all schools have trained and experienced counselors,
and many students report that they fear being judged, reprimanded, or mocked by their peers for
talking to a counselor. Teachers, administrators, and parents need to consider how a child feels
safe to ask for help on school premises. Here are some guidelines to consider. As a parent, they
have the power to spot early signs if their child is not feeling okay by simply creating a more
empathetic environment at home and encouraging them to open up. Their attitude towards their
child's mental health can be made or broken.

Our research led to the development of a questionnaire with eleven questions to collect data in
real-time and to determine how Gen Z views mental well-being. We distributed the same message
to our classmates aged 14-19 and received 56 responses. Four out of ve respondents believe
more mental health workshops should be conducted in schools.

The survey found that more than 66% of teens felt upset sometimes. The most common reasons
for being upset were examination stress, issues with family and friends, and overthinking and
worrying about the future.

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The majority of the respondents feel that setting up a routine that includes proper sleep and a
healthy diet proved to be fruitful. 60% feel that taking a break from their issues or distracting
themselves with music, reading books, watching movies, etc. might help them feel better. About
70% of them responded that they might feel better if they discussed their problems with family or
friends. 

Additionally, setting up a routine that involves sleep and a healthy diet was bene cial. Sixty
percent of respondents stated that taking a break from issues, reading books, watching movies,
etc. could help them feel better.

Despite feeling depressed for an extended period, 30% of respondents do not intend to visit a
psychologist. This calls for experts' attention to the hesitation youth or their families experience
and how to reach out for appropriate treatment.

Our survey brings into light the growing awareness amongst the adolescents of today's
generation on the importance of mental health. However, the stigma is still prevalent in seeking
medical support for mental health concerns. It is important to encourage adolescents to talk
about their feelings with family and friends so they do not stress themselves out trying to deal with
things alone .We need to realize that the problems can be worked out together to nd solutions.
It's very important to think about the fact that mental health and the brain are just as important as
the physical body.

"What mental health needs are more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation."
Glenn Close.

edited by- alex chhabra

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