Contributing Factors

A teenager in the modern world has an excessive amount of stress nearly every day. School assignments, sports practices and performances, friends and family relationships, and social media are all large contributing factors. The Coronavirus Pandemic has also added a unique level of stress to teenagers. Mental pressure can lead to severe anxiety disorders. One way to help with academic stress is to have school support. Studies show that schools with larger support systems can help their students better balance a healthy life (Harlow).

Age and genders play a large role in the development of mental illnesses. Young girls are more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders due to their constant fluctuation in hormones. While boys are less likely to develop these, they are at higher risk to struggle with addiction and substance abuse. Hormones are key to how mental illnesses develop. As children age, their hormones surge and the chemicals in their brains are continuously changing. This is why teenagers are especially prone to mental disorders ("The Impact").

Many parents today are against the excessive use of social media. Most of us have probably heard them say it: "You're melting your brains... That phone is the cause of all your problems." But does social media actually have that big of an impact?

Studies support both sides of this debate. Social media can be both uplifting and destructive to a teenager. Over the course of the 2020 Coronavirus lockdown, many famous TikTokers and YouTubers have been using their platforms to talk about mental health. As teenagers spend a lot of time on their phones, they were exposed to these videos and their discussions. Some say that it helped them open up; the support coming from these online connections helped them work through their struggles and feel less alone.

But social media also has a harsh, dark side. Teenagers are comparing themselves to outrageous standards that make them feel hopeless. Social media becomes an addiction; something teens cannot go a day without. Modeling and fashion platforms are still tentative to add body positivity to their industry. Eating disorders and depression are oftentimes the outcomes of these comparisons. It can give a feeling of total loneliness, even if they are surrounded by thousands of people (Libbert).

Teenagers and young people are constantly at risk for causes of depression. Changing hormones, genetics, childhood trauma, and even repeated negativity can have a drastic impact on their mental health. Brain chemistry has a large role in mental illnesses. Your brain sends signals to your body, and if these neurotransmitters are impaired in any way, they can mess with your nervous system. Home life and lifestyles impact mental health in a way that most people don’t realize. Children and teens need a large support system to feel safe, and without it, they’re much more likely to develop mental illnesses (Mayo Clinic Staff).