Teen Mental Health Resources

From a young age, we're taught that you should visit the doctor when you feel physical pain or discomfort. But what do you do when the pain and discomfort are coming from your thoughts and emotions?

While physical illnesses affect part of your body, mental illnesses affect your emotions, thinking, or behavior— and sometimes a combination of the three. Left untreated, mental illnesses can impact your ability to:
- do well in school or at work
- maintain healthy relationships
- manage day-to-day tasks
- and so much more...

Even though diagnosing a mental illness is not as straightforward as diagnosing a physical illness (like a broken leg or a cold), they are all health conditions with life-saving treatments available.

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Just like asthma or diabetes, you can’t control whether you experience mental illness or not. Some people are more prone to mental illnesses due to genetics, while others may experience trauma that leads to mental illness.

The bottom line is that we can’t control the cards we’re dealt, but we can choose to use the resources available to help us.

Mental illness can affect anyone— regardless of age, race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, income, or social status. It could be the friend you know is having problems at home or the friend who seemingly has it all together.

In a group of you and your four closest friends, at least one has experienced some form of mental illness.

According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the presence of almost every poor mental health indicator has risen since 2011.

Of course, as a young person, you experience a unique set of challenges in life, but just because mental health struggles are common doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek help.

It’s okay not to feel okay sometimes. However, being honest about when to reach out for help is essential. The YMCA of Alamance County has teen mental health resources to help you feel seen, safe, and get the help you need.

The unique challenges of being young, a person of color, or part of the LGBTQ+ community create a higher risk for mental health struggles. Maintaining good mental health can be more difficult for some when considering that you can hold several of these identities simultaneously.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought on new struggles for young people, too. Some of the factors that affected teen mental health during COVID-19 include (but are not limited to):
- Isolation from peers
- Rapidly adapting to virtual learning
- Changes to sleep habits (and other routines)

The Y recognizes the significant impact that experiences tied to identity, real-life events, and stress have on young people’s mental health.

Therefore, we are committed to doing everything possible to destigmatize mental health issues, support Burlington, NC, and provide the education and resources our young people are looking for.

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