Effects of Mental Illness

Students with a mental illness often struggle in academics. It affects their sleep schedules, quality of work, and academic achievement. Dropout rates are higher within the walls of mental illness. Since mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety affect energy levels, students can struggle with getting quality work done on time. This also affects their positive attitude, concentration, and dependability (“Consequences of Student”).

Social media has normalized and even romanticized death and suicide. Teens with hormonal surges can sometimes make irrational decisions, especially when dealing with other stress. Suicide and self-harm rates have risen 42% in young people, from 2006 to 2017. Depression and cyberbullying are leading factors. Parents of young suicide victims say to watch for signs of depression. Depression isn’t just sadness; it can be seen as anger, irritability, or sometimes even physical illness (Jayson).

Mental illnesses, such as depression, are classified as mental disorders. Depression causes stress to the body, which increases heart activity and can lead to heart disease. Depressive actions can also cause overeating and binging, which leads to obesity. Also, depression can prompt people to eat less, which creates eating disorders and malnutrition. Mental illnesses, if left untreated, can lead people to drug or alcohol abuse. Without treatment, these illnesses also increase the risk of suicide in young people (Admin).