Getting Help – Varsity Education

Vocabulary: psychotherapy, behavior therapy, family therapy, group therapy, drug therapy

When Help Is Needed

Main Idea: The first step to getting help for a mental health problem is being aware that help is needed.

Many teens with mental health problems do not recognize the seriousness of their condition, or understand that help is available. In fact, most adult mental health disorders have their roots in untreated childhood and adolescent problems. More than half of suicidal youths had symptoms of a mental disorder for more than a year prior to their deaths.

Mental health influences every aspect of a person’s life. No one should ever feel embarrassed to talk with someone about mental or emotional problems. Teens should seek help if they experience any of the following:

Feeling trapped or worrying all the time
Feelings that affect sleep, eating habits, school work, job performance, or relationships
Becoming involved with alcohol or other drugs
Becoming increasingly aggressive, violent, or reckless

Often, friends and family are the first to recognize that a problem is affecting the teen’s life and relationships. Their concern may encourage the individual to seek help.

Preventing Teen Suicide

Overcoming the Stumbling Blocks

Main Idea: The benefits of treatment encourage people to overcome a reluctance to get help.

Seeking help for mental health problems can be difficult. However, these problems are not easily managed without help. Initially, talking about problems may make a person feel more vulnerable. When asking for help, remember these facts:

Asking for help is a sign of inner strength. It shows responsibility for one’s own wellness.
Serious disorders, compulsions, and addictions are complex and require professional intervention.
Sharing your thoughts with an objective, helpful individual can be a great relief.
Financial help to pay for care may be available.

Where to Go for Help

Main Idea: People in your community are available to help.

It takes courage to confront a problem and try to solve it. Talking with a trusted adult, such as a parent, guardian, teacher, or school nurse, can get you started.

Many teens receive help for a mental health problem at school. A counselor or the school nurse can identify and contact support services. Other options for community help are talking with the clergy, and crisis hotline. Crisis hotlines allow people to talk anonymously. The workers are trained to deal with difficult mental and emotional situations.

Treatment for mental health problems is unique to each individual. Sometimes, a treatment plan may not work. If that happens, talk to someone else. It may be necessary to try several different treatments. People with mental health problems should continue to seek help until they feel better.

Mental Health Professionals

Help is available from a variety of professionals who work in your community’s schools, clinics, hospitals, and family agencies. These specialists are trained to help people with mental and emotional problems, and include the following:

Counselor-a professional who handles personal and educational matters
School psychologist-a professional who specializes in the assessment of learning, emotional, and behavioral problems of schoolchildren
Psychiatrist-a physician who diagnoses and treats mental disorders and can prescribe medications
Neurologist-a physician who specializes in physical disorders of the brain and nervous system
Clinical psychologist-a professional who diagnoses and treats emotional and behavioral disorders with counseling. Some can prescribe medications
Psychiatric social worker-a professional who provides guidance and treatment for emotional problems in a hospital, mental health clinic, or family service agency

Treatment Methods

Main Idea: Several methods can be helpful in treating a mental health problem.

Mental health professionals may use several treatments depending on their expertise and the needs of the patterns. The following are the most commonly used therapy methods.

Psychotherapy is an ongoing dialogue between a patient and a mental health professional. The dialogue is designed to find the cause of a problem and devise a solution.

Behavior therapy is a treatment process that focuses on changing unwanted behaviors through rewards and reinforcements.
Cognitive therapy is a treatment method designed to identify and correct distorted thinking patterns that can lead to feelings and behaviors that may be troublesome, self-defeating, or self-destructive.

Family therapy focuses on helping the family function in more positive and constructive ways by exploring patterns in communication and providing support and education. Family therapy is most successful when every member of the family attends the sessions.
Group therapy involves treating a group of people who have similar problems and who meet regularly with a trained counselor. Group members agree that whatever is said in the group is private. They agree not to discuss information heard during the group with others.
Drug therapy is the use of certain medications to treat or reduce the symptoms of a mental disorder. It is sometimes used alone, but is often combined with other treatment methods such as those listed above.

Sometimes a mental health problem is serious enough to require hospitalization. In a hospital, a patient can receive intensive care and treatment from doctors, nurses, and a variety of mental health specialists. When someone is receiving care after being hospitalized, these specialists are available 24 hours a day.

Suicide Prevention