Tackling Adolescent Mental Health in Los Angeles

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 Tackling Adolescent Mental Health in Los Angeles

INTRODUCTION

[Addressing Youth Mental Health]

In today's world, our children's mental health is more vital than ever. The portfolio

focuses on the lively and diverse Los Angeles metropolitan region, where adolescent mental

health is a major problem. Teenagers encounter various mental health issues that need immediate

attention due to increased pressures, societal expectations, and academic duties. This portfolio

will investigate the extent and impact of juvenile mental health issues in Los Angeles. It will

thoroughly investigate local prevalence rates, comparing them to national standards and trends

and dissecting the complex repercussions on people's physical well-being, mental health,

academic attainment, family life, and the economy. This paper outlines a comprehensive plan for

a preventive and supportive approach to boost the capacity of the Los Angeles adolescent

population to recover from adversity and improve their quality of life.

PART 1: SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCES

[Addressing Youth Mental Health]

Target Problem

The alarming rise in juvenile mental health difficulties, particularly anxiety and sadness,

has been identified as a community issue consistent with the counseling field of practice. The

issues plaguing our society have a detrimental influence on students' academic achievement,

emotional well-being, and general development.

Scope of the Problem

The prevalence of mental health issues among young people in the greater Los Angeles

area has reached crisis proportions. According to data from the Los Angeles County Department.

of Mental Health, one in every four teens (13 to 18) has a mental disorder (U.S. National Library

of Medicine, 2019). This rate is 5% higher than the national average, indicating a significant

situation that demands immediate attention. Over the last decade, there has been a concerning

trend in these rates, with reports of juvenile anxiety and depression increasing by 15%. (County

Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2018).

Consequences of the Problem

The consequences of Los Angeles' adolescent mental health problem extend well beyond

the people afflicted, impacting their families, neighborhoods, schools, and economy. Untreated

mental health illnesses may lead to chronic stress linked to various physical health issues,

including heart disease and immune system malfunction (Nelson et al., 2020). If left untreated,

anxiety and depression may cause great mental distress, an increased risk of self-injury, and even

suicide. The social costs are also considerable since individuals under these circumstances are

more prone to withdraw from their social networks, families, and communities. Affected kids

perform worse academically, have higher absentee rates, and are likelier to drop out. Increased

healthcare costs, lower work productivity, and the long-term cost of treating chronic mental

diseases are all economic consequences of untreated juvenile mental health issues (Gueldner et

al., 2020).
PART 2: SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL MODEL

[Addressing Youth Mental Health]

The social-ecological concept is essential for Los Angeles juvenile mental health.

Adolescent social isolation, interpersonal stress, and mental health issues may lead to lifelong

issues (Magson et al., 2021). This model shows how diverse social influences affect youth well-

being. According to this paradigm, let us examine individual, relational, community, and societal

risk and protective variables. Individual risk factors include genetic predisposition, stressful life

events like academic pressures, family problems, personal challenges, and substance abuse,

which can worsen mental health issues in youth. Cultural competencies and early access to

secure and supportive housing should be prioritized (Höhne et al., 2020). Some young people

have inherent resilience, which helps them cope with adversity and bounce back from

difficulties; access to mental health services, which can mitigate the impact of mental health

issues; and positive coping strategies, which can improve mental resilience.

Peer pressure, including substance abuse and bullying, can harm a young person's mental

health, as can family conflict or abusive relationships. Strong family support and open

communication help guard against mental health difficulties, as can excellent peer connections

with peers who give emotional support and encouragement.Local risk factors include a lack of

quality education, which can limit opportunities for young people and cause stress; a lack of safe

and engaging recreational activities, which can affect mental health; and high crime rates, which

can cause stress and trauma. Accessible mental health programs and services in communities can

provide crucial support, quality after-school programs can provide a safe and enriching

environment, and engaged communities that promote positive youth development can create a

sense of belonging and purpose.

 Finally, societal stigma can discourage young people from seeking help or discussing

their issues, economic inequality can limit youth access to resources and opportunities, and

inadequate mental health policies and funding can hinder prevention and treatment. Mental

health awareness campaigns, which raise awareness and reduce stigma, investment in education,

which provides equitable access to quality education and resources, and policy reform, which

addresses systemic issues, can protect mental health. A multi-level strategy that addresses risk

and protective variables is needed to treat juvenile mental health in Los Angeles. To help youth,

interventions should build relationships, communities, and social systems. This integrative

strategy may reduce the region's teenage mental health problems and increase young people's

well-being.
 References

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (2018). How healthy is your community? Robert Wood

Johnson Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/

Gueldner, B. A., Feuerborn, L. L., & Merrell, K. W. (2020). Social and emotional learning in the

classroom: Promoting mental health and academic success. Guilford Publications.

Höhne, E., van der Meer, A. S., Kamp-Becker, I., & Christiansen, H. (2020). A systematic

review of risk and protective factors of mental health in unaccompanied minor refugees.

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1-15.

Kranzler, J. H., Floyd, R. G., Bray, M. A., & Demaray, M. K. (2020). Past, present, and future of

research in school psychology: The biopsychosocial ecological model as an overarching

framework. School psychology, 35(6), 419.

Magson, N. R., Freeman, J. Y., Rapee, R. M., Richardson, C. E., Oar, E. L., & Fardouly, J.

(2021). Risk and protective factors for prospective changes in adolescent mental health

during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of youth and adolescence, 50, 44-57.

Nelson, C. A., Bhutta, Z. A., Harris, N. B., Danese, A., & Samara, M. (2020). Adversity in

childhood is linked to mental and physical health throughout life—bmj, p. 371.

U.S. National Library of Medicine (2019, April 3). Finding and using health statistics.

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/nichsr/stats_tutorial/cover.html.