{"id":2215,"date":"2021-11-26T15:38:12","date_gmt":"2021-11-26T13:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vuokkoset.fi\/my-body\/nuorten-mielenterveys-tarvitsee-tukea-ja-toiveikkuutta\/"},"modified":"2021-12-15T17:13:57","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T15:13:57","slug":"young-peoples-mental-health-needs-support-and-optimism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vuokkoset.fi\/en\/my-body\/young-peoples-mental-health-needs-support-and-optimism\/","title":{"rendered":"Young people\u2019s mental health needs support and optimism"},"content":{"rendered":"

The mental health challenges faced by young people have been a topic of discussion, particularly during the pandemic. Two years of restrictions have affected teenagers\u2019 school, friendships, and hobbies \u2013 all of the pillars of youth. It is normal for young people to react to the pandemic and its consequences. Adults, whether parents or health care professionals, should be on the lookout for changes in young people\u2019s behaviour, and actively ask them how they are doing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Did you know, that…<\/strong><\/p>\n

21% of young people experience moderate or severe anxiety*
\n14% of young people feel lonely*
\n39% of young people have been concerned about their mood within the last year*<\/p>\n

How are young Finns doing?<\/h3>\n

The managing director of Sekaisin Kollektiivi<\/a> Satu Raappana explains that young people often experience anxiety as an unexplained sensation that can feel like a lump in the chest. Young people think about relationships, sexuality, loneliness, and everyday coping. Every day, trained volunteers are on-call in Sekaisin Kollektiivi\u2019s Sekaisin chat to help young people in challenging situations.<\/p>\n

\u201cSigns of feeling unwell vary from person to person. Some people lose sleep and can\u2019t shake a feeling of melancholy. Other young people might feel tearful and withdraw, while others go into overdrive. I encourage parents and teachers, as well as young people themselves, to identify changes, as they can sometimes communicate a need for help. Help is available and must be sought at a low threshold, rather than wait for things to get out of hand. The stigma surrounding mental health problems must be reduced, and reaching out for help doesn\u2019t make anyone a bad person or a failure,\u201d summarizes Satu.<\/p>\n

Sekaisin Kollektiivi\u2019s services are just one way to seek help. It\u2019s important to find a person who can openly interact with the young person and be present. Some young people find it easier to write than to talk, and others prefer to speak face-to-face. However help is sought, the most important thing is to find glimmers of light in even the most difficult situations in life.<\/p>\n

The consequences of coronavirus<\/h3>\n

Some young people feel that the coronavirus has cast a dark shadow over their future, and young people don\u2019t necessarily have the resources to imagine a time after coronavirus. The media has written about a \u201cmental health time bomb\u201d among young people, which labels them as problematic.<\/p>\n

\u201cYoung people are valued, no matter their reactions. The most important thing is to organize channels for seeking help, develop a wide range of services, and to interact with young people online. School socials workers often have scant resources, and some young people are loyal in that they think that a friend needs more help than they do, and so they don\u2019t ask the school health care for help. Luckily, young people\u2019s minds are resilient, and even after difficult periods, when given the correct support, they can return to how they were,\u201d Satu says.<\/p>\n

A word to young people and instructions for adults<\/h3>\n

\u201cTo all young people, I want to say: don\u2019t give up. Everyone fails sometimes, and you don\u2019t need to be the best at everything. Life changes every day, and in the future all options are possible \u2013 that goes for everyone. If your studies have gone a bit downhill during the pandemic, it\u2019s not so serious. The most important thing is to look after your mental health and friendships. Take a moment to get to know yourself and learn social skills. If you have any self-destructive thoughts, be brave and speak up about them \u2013 all research shows that talking helps. Help is available and should be sought, even if you aren\u2019t quite sure what\u2019s wrong. Very few mental health problems last forever, and you can live a good, normal life despite a diagnosis,\u201d she adds, encouragingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would remind adults to ask young people how they\u2019re doing. Young people can find it difficult to talk to their parents about their life, but they still need to be given the space and opportunity to put their feelings into words. Adults must nurture everyday encounters, foster a good atmosphere, and have plenty of patience. Even if a young person is confrontational and slams doors, the parent must tolerate it and provide love. You never know when the young person\u2019s behaviour will change and they genuinely want to talk about how they\u2019re doing,\u201d Satu advises.<\/p>\n

Where is help available for mental health problems?<\/h3>\n

The Sekasin chat<\/a> is open every day of the year
\nSekaisin Gaming\u00a0<\/a>is Finland\u2019s largest professionally moderated online community aimed at young people
\nHealth care at the young person\u2019s own school<\/p>\n

*Source: School health survey 2021<\/p>\n

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