Nurturing Teen Mental Health: The Healing Power of Daily Journals
In today’s fast-paced world of high school, college, where academic pressures and social expectations run high, it’s near paralyzing for teenagers and youth to grapple with emotional challenges related to education and socializing with peers. Starting from mild to severe anxiety, depression, to stress and self-doubt, these issues can significantly impact students’ well-being and their academic performance. However, amidst the constant turmoil, there are invaluable tools like journals, and social support systems to bring about a balance, which can make a profound difference in their lives. Adults can also help bring about a balance in the lives of teenagers and youth by fostering a journaling habit in them.
Understanding the Scope of Teen Mental Health Issues
Statistics have shed light on the prevalence of emotional problems among teenagers, with depression and anxiety rates on the rise. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), around 31.9% of adolescents aged 13–18 experience anxiety disorders due to constant stress of daily student and social life. Moreover, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in 2019, 19.4% of high school students in the United States experienced many depressive symptoms. Presently, other than overworked school counselors, there are no remedies to control the emotional valve release for situations that may explode, if not addressed immediately. Many schools in the U.S and in other nations do not have mental health specialists or services. Also, school districts do not have the budget to hire psychologists to address student mental health problems. It’s not a sacrilege to say that schools do not deem it important to address emotional issues and challenges that students face on a daily basis. They simply do not have the manpower to address every student’s mental issues and check for stability, based on proper resolution of those problems.
The Role of Social Support Networks
While friends and socialization can provide some balance, the importance of seeking deeper avenues of support is very much needed and cannot be overstated. The need for journaling among students and youth is urgent. Counselors, teachers, and family members play pivotal roles at different times in students’ lives, by offering guidance and assistance to those students struggling with life’s issues apart from educational challenges. Additionally, peer support groups and social groups which form meaningful communities provide safe spaces for students, youth and teenagers to share their experiences whereby they can seek empathy and understanding from others. However, NOTHING comes close to venting feelings in a notebook or journal which has prompts to guide and lead the students facing emotional issues caused by daily circumstance. Journals provide invaluable mental help to students in their time of need.
The Super Power of Journals in Restoring Teen and Youth Mental Health
Amidst the chaos of coping with adolescence, journaling is currently emerging as a powerful tool for self-reflection and emotional expression. Self-esteem and gratitude journals, in particular, offer teenagers a clear, structured way to cultivate positive thinking and nurture their mental health on a daily basis. This has to become a habit because it provides an emotional outlet and keeps depression at bay. Depression is dangerous and emotionally unsafe for youth and students whose minds are just starting to develop. External pressures can damage the psyche of the youth in every nation. That’s why students and youth from divorced families or runaway parents show that they suffer more emotionally due to trauma of familial separation. Students and youth tend to blame themselves for the familial breakdown. They take it hard on themselves and the mental damage caused in some cases is irreversible.
Depression is a prevalent mental health issue among teenagers and youth. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 264 million people across the world, of all ages suffer from depression, making it one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Of this, students and youth are about 40% of the public who experience stress related to peer pressure, educational performance, and being accepted in social circles. Students face emotional paralysis that causes them to be recluses and avoid interaction of all kinds.
Depression is a significant concern among students in various countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Europe, and France. In the U.S, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 19.4% of high school students experience depressive symptoms. Similarly, in the UK, research from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicates that about one in eight (12.8%) young people ages 5 to 19 experienced mental disorders, including depression. In Canada, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) states that 3.2 million youth aged 12 to 19 are at constant risk of developing depression. In Australia, Beyond Blue reports that around one in seven young Australians aged 4 to 17 experience a mental health conditions, including depression. Finally, in France, according to Santé Publique France, around 12.5% of adolescents aged 15 to 19 report experiencing symptoms of depression. These statistics highlight the widespread impact that depression causes on the mental well-being of teenagers and students in these nations at an alarming rate. This trend is growing and does not show signs of stopping. Students have around them several distractions, including playing video games, (fun, violence, bizarre, fantasy, sexual) to keep them from journaling. They need to be educated on the long lasting benefits of journaling, which helps them develop their mind, which is needed for clear thinking of rational thoughts.
Self-Esteem Journals
Self-esteem journals provide teenagers and youth with a daily outlet to challenge negative thoughts, and build positivity which leads to self-confidence. By recording their achievements, strengths, and moments of personal growth, students can gradually shift their focus from self-doubt to self-empowerment. Through daily affirmations and reflections, they learn to appreciate their worth and capabilities, fostering a healthier sense of self-esteem. Journaling also helps each student understand themselves better through self expression, practiced through the art of journaling. Writing down fears, self-doubts, and overcoming them through journaling helps build confidence and shape character. It in turn helps each student to form better relationships with other students inside and outside their classrooms, in team building activities, sports, community events, and in larger social and faith circles.
Gratitude Journals
Gratitude journals encourage teenagers and youth to cultivate an attitude of appreciation and mindfulness in their daily lives. By acknowledging and documenting moments of gratitude, these students train their minds to focus on the positives, even amidst challenges. By regular journaling practice, students start to focus on the positives rather than the negatives. Research has shown that practicing gratitude can enhance overall well-being, reduce stress, and foster resilience in the face of adversity. It makes the student feel better about himself/herself and helps them evaluate, assess situations better and handle challenges in a calm manner.
Incorporating Journaling into Teenagers’ Lives
Integrating self-esteem and gratitude journals into teenagers’ daily routines can have positive, transformative effects on their mental health. Schools can be of help in a big way by incorporating daily journaling exercises into their curriculum, providing students with structured prompts and guidance. Journaling is a healthy start to students venting out their frustrations and emotions into their journals. This definitely gives them the emotional release that they so desperately need. Not all issues can be said between friends, and there is limited time amongst friends. Also, not all friends are emotionally receptive to other students’ needs. Some friends do not want to be bothered by other students’ burdens. It is a delicate balance, and students are aware of how much they can tell friends, how much they can tell teachers, and how much they want to tell their parents. Certain issues are shameful, possibly taboo and they are ashamed or scared to tell it to others. Teenagers have tight close inner circles. They will only trust a handful or maybe two of their best friends to confide their deepest fears, emotions, and secrets.
Parents and caregivers can also encourage journaling as a healthy coping mechanism, first by educating children about the positive benefits of using a Journal. They can lead by example through their own journaling practices. Journals definitely address several missing elements in the school curriculum. The school addresses learning at a topic and subject levels. Journaling goes deeper and focuses on helping students and youth with emotional growth and maturity. It helps overcome challenges and daily life issues by helping them write, express themselves using prompts. Students get the absolute freedom to write about how they feel about their day, the interaction with their friends, peers, teachers and counselors.
Emotional Imbalance and Resulting Harmful Behaviors:
Emotional imbalance among students and youth can manifest in harmful behaviors, including self-inflicted physical harm and aggression towards others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), report self-harm rates among adolescents have been increasing, with approximately 17.2% of high school students in the United States reporting that they had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. This emotional distress can lead to acts of self-injury, such as cutting or burning, as a maladaptive coping mechanism to deal with overwhelming feelings. Moreover, the American Association of Suicidology, established in 1968 by Edwin S. Shneidman, reports that suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals ages 10–34, highlighting the severity of this issue.
Emotional instability can also contribute to aggressive behavior towards peers, with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reporting that about 20% of students aged 12–18 experienced bullying, and around 7% were involved in physical fights on school property. These startling and raw statistics underscore the urgent need for effective interventions and intricate support systems to address emotional distress among students and youth and prevent the harmful consequences of emotional imbalance. Also, students may or will not talk to adults unless there is a deep trust factor established between them and that adult.
Emotional imbalance among students and youth can lead to a range of harmful behaviors, including self-inflicted physical harm, aggression towards others, and even gun violence in schools. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), states about 3% of students aged 12–18 reported being threatened or injured with a weapon, including bringing firearms on school property. Incidents of gun violence in schools have tragically become more frequent, prompting widespread concern and calls for an increase in improved mental health support for students and stricter gun control measures. These statistics highlight the urgent need for detailed strategies to address emotional distress and prevent violence in formal educational settings.
Conclusion: Nurturing Teen Mental Health
In the challenging journey through adolescence, teenagers navigate a myriad of emotional challenges on a daily basis that can profoundly impact their well-being. However, by leveraging the power of support networks and incorporating self help tools like Self-esteem and Gratitude journals, students can cultivate resilience, self-awareness, positivity, and inner strength. As we strive to create a more supportive and compassionate society, that is led by productive citizens, let us empower our teenagers and youth to prioritize their mental health first by embracing the practice of daily journaling that helps with the transformative power of self-reflection and gratitude.
Thank you for reading! If you feel generous today, please share this article with someone you know so teenagers and youth can take to the good habit of journaling. It creates a meaningful interaction between your mind and the journal page as you write your version of the events that transpired during the day. Your act of writing it out helps your mind to relax and destress.
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