Artwork by June Kim
Written by Emily Kang
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) can affect any individual and can have wide and long-lasting implications. Effects are especially detrimental towards teenagers or young adults still developing. This is the reason for the present day emphasis on mental health. Suicide and depression rates are skyrocketing and still widely disregarded by many adults. In a data analysis of over 159,500 adolescents, researchers found a statistically significant relation between PTSD and suicidal behaviours. After studies were done comparing other psychiatric adolescent inpatients, a diagnosis of PTSD increased the risk of suicide by 23 percent. Also, PTSD was prevalent in 15.9 percent of adolescents who have experienced trauma at least once in their lifetime. The significance of these numbers exhibits that childhood and teenage trauma can impact any individual and that the statistically significant correlation between PTSD and suicidal behaviours indicates the severity of the condition.
Strikingly, a considerable number of parents, parental figures, or adults persist in withholding the necessary assistance their children require, driven by their own sheer ignorance or disbelief, thus disregarding the importance and value of addressing their children's needs. Teenagers can often lack the financial resources or support from their loved ones. Therapy could be seen as an unnecessary financial burden to parents or guardians which in turn only exacerbates the challenge as adolescents often don’t have direct access to aid. Consequently, teenagers become vulnerable to a range of difficulties, including struggles in regulating their emotions and the absence of a suitable outlet to express themselves.
The outcomes of untreated or overlooked PTSD in teenagers can cause complexities of mental health, including substance abuse, social interactions, self-worth, and identity. entangles in their own internal struggles, adolescents often resort to substance abuse, most of which are detrimental to one’s health. This can lead to a vicious cycle of social isolation and withdrawal. However, validation and confidence-building measures prove to be transformative in aiding adolescents with PTSD or other mental health struggles. Teenagers who receive support, especially from loved ones, are more likely to be more willing to address their struggles.
The impact of PTSD on the mental health of teenagers extends far beyond emotional and social well-being, consequentially having more severe impacts such as stunting overall brain growth. The brain doesn’t fully develop until one’s mid to late twenties. Research has demonstrated how PTSD can affect brain regions such as the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. If untreated, these impacts can permanently challenge memory, hyper-emotional reactivity, decision-making, and impulse control. These consequences impact one’s daily life, and more specifically, prevent one’s ability to form healthy relationships, cope with stress, and succeed academically. For instance, mental health especially impacts one's education with studies showing 64 percent of students with PTSD and struggling with their mental health drop out of college. By recognizing the interconnected nature of these factors, we can foster an inclusive environment that prioritizes the mental well-being of adolescents, allowing them to overcome obstacles and be able to thrive in all aspects of their lives.
It is crucial that early signs of PTSD are not readily dismissed especially in our peers or loved ones. By recognizing and responding to these indicators, we have the potential to make a life-saving impact. Let us remain watchful, empathetic, and proactive in addressing mental health concerns, as our actions may genuinely make a difference in someone’s life.
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