Psychological illness, also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of mental health

conditions of disorders among teenagers that affect their mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of
illness include depression, anxiety disorders and psychotic disorders. Psychological illness is a leading
cause of disability. Untreated psychological illness can cause severe emotional, behavioral and
physical health problems.

Depression is a serious mental health problem that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss
of interest in activities. It affects how teenagers thinks, feels and behaves, and it can cause
emotional, functional and physical problems. Although depression can occur at any time in life,
symptoms may be different between teens and adults. But it isn't a weakness or something that can
be overcome with willpower. It can have serious consequences and requires long-term treatment.
For most teens, depression symptoms ease with treatment such as medication and psychological
counseling.

Anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday
situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety
and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes refer as panic attack. Examples of anxiety
disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific
phobias and separation anxiety disorder. To prevent it from getting worst, teenagers can consult for
a counselling or participate in activities that they enjoy and that make them feel good about
themselves, enjoying social interaction and caring relationships, can lessen their worries.

Psychotic disorders are a group of serious illnesses that affect the mind. They make it hard for
someone to think clearly, make good judgments, respond emotionally, communicate effectively,
understand reality, and behave appropriately. When symptoms are severe, teenagers with psychotic
disorders have trouble staying in touch with reality and often are unable to handle daily life. Most
psychotic disorders are treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy, which is a
type of counselling. Main medication doctors prescribe to treat psychotic disorders are
“antipsychotics.” Although these medicines aren’t a cure, they are effective in managing the most
troubling symptoms of psychotic disorders, such as delusions, hallucinations, and thinking problems.

In conclusion, mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health
among teenagers.  For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health
problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes, hearts disease, and stroke. Similarly, the
presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness. Although the terms are often
used interchangeably, poor mental health and mental illness are not the same. A person can
experience poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness. Likewise, a person
diagnosed with a mental illness can experience periods of physical, mental and social well-being.