Adolescents and Mental Health Stigma

Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group.

• In 2016, suicide accounted for 19% of deaths among youth aged 10 to 14, 29% among youth aged 15 to 19, and 23% among young adults aged 20-24

• An estimated 75% of children with mental disorders do not access specialized treatment services.

• A growing body of international evidence demonstrates that promotion, prevention, and early intervention initiatives show positive returns on investment.

• Wait times for counselling and therapy can be long, especially for children and youth. In Ontario, wait times of six months to one year are common.

• After accidents, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-24.

• First Nations youth die by suicide about 5 to 6 times more often than non-Aboriginal youth. Suicide rates for Inuit youth are among the highest in the world, at 11 times the national average.

• Canada’s youth suicide rate is the third highest in the industrialized world.

Unfortunately, mental health stigma persists today. In a national Canadian poll, it revealed that 51% of Canadians think that people with mental illnesses experience “a lot” of stigmas and discrimination. Such disorders are even considered taboo in some cultures like Asian and African American communities where mental health disorder is considered as weakness or failure.

How are teens affected by mental health stigma?
The stigma around mental health conditions can endanger adolescents in many ways.

• Being victims of bullying
  The negative beliefs and stereotypes about mental illnesses have been used to justify bullying teens with such conditions. Bullying can take on many different forms, such as:

• Physical bullying – using physical force against someone

• Verbal bullying – using words to attack another person

• Social/Relational bullying – purposely excluding, spreading rumors, or ignoring someone

• Cyberbullying – using electronic media to intimidate, threaten, or embarrass another person

• Experiencing discrimination
  Mental health stigma can lead to discrimination, whereby adolescents with mental health issues are treated differently or poorly because of their condition. These adolescents then often have fewer opportunities for education, employment, and social activities.

• Having limited access to quality healthcare
  Mental health stigma can translate to the neglect or unwillingness of the political system to allocate public funds toward mental health services. Some insurance companies also do not cover psychiatric therapy and medication. This is why teens with mental illnesses may receive poorer quality of care or have difficulty even receiving any form of care. In fact, 31% of Canadian adolescents have tried to avail mental healthcare but found it too hard to figure out where to go.

• Having decreased self-esteem and resorting to self-isolation
  The stigmatization from their family, peers, and community can negatively impact how adolescents view themselves and how they interact with others. A 2010 study of stigma among teens taking psychiatric medication found that many of the participants are afraid of being bullied by their peers in school. Consequently, 90% of them displayed at least one of the three measured stigma themes: secrecy, shame, and limiting social interaction.

• Being unwilling to seek treatment or feeling shame for doing so
  Mental health stigma prevents adolescents from getting the help they need. And when they do seek treatment, they feel shame for doing so. In fact, 49% of Canadians from Generation Z worry about others judging them when they say they’ve sought mental health services.

How can parents fight mental health stigma?
Action must be taken at all levels of society to reduce and eventually eliminate mental health stigma. But as a parent of a teen with a mental health condition, you can do a lot to effect change.

• Be conscious of the language you use
  Be careful of how you refer to people with mental health conditions by avoiding labels. For example, instead of saying “She’s schizophrenic,” say “She has schizophrenia.” Also avoid using mental illnesses as adjectives such as “The weather today is so bipolar.”

• Raise mental health awareness in your community
  One of the best ways to normalize mental illness is to talk about it. You can bust mental health myths and educate members of your community by speaking at events, contributing to your local newsletter, or sharing helpful infographics on your neighborhood’s social media group.

• Encourage your child to seek treatment
  Instead of avoiding the issue or forcing your child to seek treatment right away, have an open discussion about mental illness and assure them of your love and support. When you feel they are ready, share with them how adolescent mental health services can provide relief and reduce symptoms that interfere with their school and personal life.

If you are looking for competent, comprehensive, and compassionate care for your child, then set up an appointment with Center Street Psychology. When you work with us, we’ll make sure that your child gets the appropriate support and treatment to ensure their continued growth and development. We also work as a collaborative team and often provide family support to parents asking for help with parenting practices and emotional support.

*Research provided from Statistics Canada, Canadian Mental Health Association, Youth Mental Health Canada and the World Health Organization.