Youth can be a turbulent time with a lot of highs and lows. During this time, young people change a lot both in their body and their mind. They also experience increased pressure to perform and to figure out who they are and what they want in life. Having to deal with all these things at once can be hard. It is therefore not too surprising that some start to struggle with their mental health during their youth. Even though mental health problems are relatively common in young people, many are reluctant to seek help. This may be because they feel ashamed or think that they should be able to sort out their problems on their own. Unfortunately,. this may just make matters worse. So what can young people do when they struggle with their mental health? And what options are there for seeking help for youth mental health?
Talking to a family member, friend, or a partner can be of great help for young people who struggle with their mental health. It can help young people talk through things that are bothering them. This may help young people feel less overwhelmed by their mental health problems. Talking to someone can also help young people realize that others may be going through similar hardships as themselves. This can feel comforting and may help young people feel less alone with their problems. Family members, friends, or a partner who have gone through similar challenges may also be able to give helpful advice or may know of useful resources for young people who struggle with their mental health. Lastbut not least, if they know that a young person is going though a hard time, family members, friends, or a partner can offer care and support by checking in on them.
Seek Help from a Mental Health Professional
Young people who struggle with their mental health should also consider to seek help from a mental health professional. This could be their medical doctor, a psychologist, school counselor, or a youth worker. Mental health professionals are trained to help with all kinds challenges and mental health problems that youth may have. This may include difficulties at school, relationship problems, or questions about identity. It may also include more severe mental health problems, such as seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, self harm, or suicidal thoughts. Mental health professionals can help young people work through any of these problems and offer skills and techniques to improve their mental health. These skills and techniques can help young people overcome hard times in the future. It can also reduce their risk of future mental health problems.
Some young people may feel nervous about seeking professional help for their mental health. They might worry that they will seem weak if they seek help, or they may simply not know how to seek help. For these young people, it can be a good idea to ask a family member or another adult that they trust to help contact a mental health professional. The adult can help navigate the process of seeking support, and may also be able to join the first meetings with a mental health professional. For people who feel nervous about contacting a mental health professional, it is also important to know that seeking help is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, to seek help and admit that one is struggling, shows great strength and courage.
Engage in Self-Care
Sometimes, young people have to wait a while before a mental health professional is available. In these cases, there are steps that young people can take themselves to take care of their mental health. Although some of these steps may seem common sense, they can be easy to forget for someone who is having a hard time. Therefore, it is good to be reminded of them.
Stay Active, Eat Healthily, and Get Enough Sleep
One of these steps is to stay active, eat healthily, and get enough relaxation and sleep. Exercise, healthy food, and sleep have many good effects on the body and the brain. These effects can help young people feel calmer, less stressed, and more positive. They can also make it easier to tackle challenges. In addition, exercise may give young people a break from their own thoughts and troubles. It can be a good idea for young people to set off time every day or week where they are physically active. This could be anything from going to the gym, to doing yoga or going for a walk. To get enough sleep and relaxation, it can also be a good idea to have a regular sleep schedule and set off time to relax during the day. Some relaxing activities include reading, listening to music, being in nature, and meditation.
Do Activities and Spend Time with Friends
Another thing that can help youth mental health is to spend time with friends and do activities. This could be creative activities such as drawing, dancing, or playing an instrument. It could also be team sports, learning something new, or any other hobby. Sometimes when young people struggle with their mental health, they loose interest in activities that they used to enjoy. They may also feel less motivated to spend time with others. Some young people may even think that they do not deserve to do things they enjoy. Or they may feel that others do not like to be with them. Even if they feel this way, they should try to continue to do activities and spend time with friends. This is because when young people spend time with friends and take part in activities, this can boost their mood and self-esteem, and make them feel less lonely.
Use Self-Help Resources for Youth Mental Health
Finally, there are several self-help resources that offer support for young people who struggle with their mental health. This may include books or online resources that give information about mental health. It may also include self-help courses such as mindfulness programs. Resources like these can be good to help young people develop skills and strategies to handle their mental health problems. At Epsychonline we have several resources and tools that can help you improve your and mental health. We have a series of self-help courses, including one on.
Vijana wanaweza kuwa wakati wenye msukosuko wenye mambo mengi mazuri na mabaya. Katika kipindi hiki, vijana hubadilika sana katika mwili na akili zao. Pia wanakabiliwa na shinikizo kubwa la kufanya kazi na kujua wao ni nani na wanataka nini maishani. Kuwa na kushughulika na mambo hayo yote kwa wakati mmoja kwaweza kuwa vigumu. Kwa hiyo, haishangazi kwamba baadhi ya watu huanza kushughulika na matatizo ya akili wanapokuwa vijana. Ingawa matatizo ya akili ni ya kawaida miongoni mwa vijana, wengi huchukia kutafuta msaada. Huenda ikawa ni kwa sababu wanaona aibu au wanafikiri kwamba wanapaswa kutatua matatizo yao wakiwa peke yao. Kwa bahati mbaya, hii inaweza tu kufanya mambo kuwa mabaya zaidi. Vijana wanaweza kufanya nini wanapokabili matatizo ya akili? Ni njia gani za kutafuta msaada wa afya ya akili? Kuzungumza na mtu wa familia, rafiki, au mwenzi wa ndoa kunaweza kuwa na msaada mkubwa kwa vijana wanaopambana na afya yao ya akili. Inaweza kuwasaidia vijana wazungumze kuhusu mambo yanayowasumbua. Hilo laweza kuwasaidia vijana wahisi kuwa hawajafadhaishwa sana na matatizo yao ya afya ya akili. Kuzungumza na mtu anaweza pia kuwasaidia vijana kutambua kwamba huenda wengine wakipatwa na magumu kama yao. Hilo laweza kuwa lenye kufariji na laweza kuwasaidia vijana wasijihisi wakiwa peke yao na matatizo yao. Familia, marafiki, au mwenzi ambaye amepitia changamoto kama hizo anaweza pia kutoa ushauri muhimu au anaweza kujua rasilimali muhimu kwa vijana wanaopambana na afya yao ya akili. Mwishowe, ikiwa unajua kwamba kijana wako anaishi maisha magumu, familia, marafiki, au mwenzi wa ndoa wanaweza kumsaidia kwa kumsaidia. Tafuta msaada kutoka kwa mtaalamu wa afya ya akili Vijana ambao wanashindana na afya yao ya akili wanapaswa pia kuzingatia kutafuta msaada kutoka kwa mtaalamu wa afya ya akili. Huenda akawa daktari wao, mwanasaikolojia, mshauri wa shule, au mfanyakazi wa vijana. Wataalamu wa afya ya akili wamefundishwa kusaidia na aina zote za changamoto na matatizo ya afya ya akili ambayo vijana wanaweza kuwa nayo. Hilo laweza kutia ndani matatizo shuleni, matatizo ya mahusiano, au maswali kuhusu utambulisho. Inaweza pia kujumuisha matatizo makubwa ya afya ya akili, kama vile kuona au kusikia mambo ambayo hayapo, kujidhuru, au mawazo ya kujiua. Wataalamu wa afya ya akili wanaweza kuwasaidia vijana kufanya kazi kupitia yoyote ya matatizo haya na kutoa ujuzi na mbinu za kuboresha afya yao ya akili. Ujuzi na mbinu hizo zaweza kuwasaidia vijana kushinda nyakati ngumu wakati ujao. Pia inaweza kupunguza hatari yao ya kupata matatizo ya afya ya akili wakati ujao. Vijana fulani huenda wakaogopa kutafuta msaada wa kitiba kwa ajili ya afya yao ya akili. Huenda wakawa na wasiwasi kwamba watakuwa dhaifu wakitafuta msaada, au huenda wakawa hawajui jinsi ya kutafuta msaada. Kwa vijana kama hao, ni vizuri kuwaomba watu wa familia au watu wazima wanaowaamini wawasaidie kuwasiliana na mtaalamu wa afya ya akili. Mzee anaweza kusaidia kuendesha mchakato wa kutafuta msaada, na pia anaweza kuungana na mikutano ya kwanza na mtaalamu wa afya ya akili. Kwa wale ambao wana wasiwasi kuhusu kuwasiliana na mtaalamu wa afya ya akili, ni muhimu kujua kwamba kutafuta msaada si ishara ya udhaifu. Kinyume chake, kutafuta msaada na kukubali kwamba mtu anajitahidi, huonyesha nguvu na ujasiri mkubwa. Wakati mwingine, vijana hulazimika kungoja muda kabla ya kupata mtaalamu wa afya ya akili. Katika hali kama hizo, kuna hatua ambazo vijana wanaweza kuchukua wenyewe ili kutunza afya yao ya akili. Ingawa baadhi ya hatua hizi zinaweza kuonekana kuwa za kawaida, zinaweza kusahaulika kwa urahisi kwa mtu anayepitia wakati mgumu. Kwa hiyo, ni vizuri kukumbushwa juu yao. Kuwa na Mazoezi, Kula Vizuri, na Kulala vya kutosha - Kwa mfano, unaweza kuwa na chakula kizuri, kula vizuri, na kulala vizuri. Mazoezi ya mwili, chakula kizuri, na usingizi huwa na matokeo mengi mazuri juu ya mwili na ubongo. Athari hizo zaweza kuwasaidia vijana wahisi wakiwa watulivu zaidi, wakiwa na mkazo mdogo, na wakiwa na mtazamo mzuri zaidi. Pia zinaweza kufanya iwe rahisi kukabiliana na magumu. Kwa kuongezea, mazoezi ya mwili yaweza kuwapa vijana mapumziko kutoka kwa mawazo na matatizo yao wenyewe. Ni jambo la busara kwa vijana kuweka wakati kila siku au kila wiki ambapo wao ni hai kimwili. Hii inaweza kuwa kitu chochote kutoka kwenda kwenye mazoezi ya mwili, kufanya yoga au kwenda kutembea. Ili kupata usingizi wa kutosha na kupumzika, ni vizuri kuwa na ratiba ya kawaida ya kulala na kuweka wakati wa kupumzika wakati wa mchana. Baadhi ya shughuli za kupumzika zinatia ndani kusoma, kusikiliza muziki, kuwa katika mazingira, na kutafakari. Kufanya shughuli na kutumia wakati na marafiki Jambo jingine linaloweza kusaidia afya ya akili ya vijana ni kutumia wakati na marafiki na kufanya shughuli. Hilo laweza kuwa shughuli za ubunifu kama vile kuchora, kucheza dansi, au kucheza ala ya muziki. Pia inaweza kuwa michezo ya timu, kujifunza kitu kipya, au burudani nyingine yoyote. Wakati mwingine vijana wanapokuwa na matatizo ya akili, hawapendezwi tena na mambo waliyopenda kufanya. Pia huenda wakahisi kwamba hawataki kutumia wakati pamoja na wengine. Huenda hata vijana fulani wakafikiri kwamba hawapaswi kufanya mambo wanayofurahia. Au huenda wakafikiri kwamba wengine hawapendi kuwa pamoja nao. Hata kama wanahisi hivyo, wanapaswa kujaribu kuendelea kufanya shughuli na kutumia wakati pamoja na marafiki. Hii ni kwa sababu wakati vijana hutumia wakati na marafiki na kushiriki katika shughuli, hii inaweza kuongeza hali yao ya moyo na kujithamini, na kuwafanya wahisi upweke kidogo. Kwa upande mwingine, kuna rasilimali kadhaa za kujisaidia ambazo hutoa msaada kwa vijana ambao wanashindana na afya yao ya akili. Hilo laweza kutia ndani vitabu au rasilimali za mtandaoni zinazotoa habari kuhusu afya ya akili. Inaweza pia kutia ndani kozi za kujisaidia kama vile programu za ufahamu. Vifaa kama hivi vinaweza kuwa nzuri kusaidia vijana kuendeleza ujuzi na mikakati ya kushughulikia matatizo yao ya afya ya akili. Katika Epsychonline tuna rasilimali kadhaa na zana ambazo zinaweza kukusaidia kuboresha afya yako ya akili. Kuna kozi kadhaa za kujisaidia, ikiwa ni pamoja na moja juu ya