The Four Most Common Mental Illnesses in Youth
Understanding the challenges that young people face and how we can help.
Anxiety Disorders – The Mind in Overdrive
Anxiety is the most common mental health issue among youth, causing excessive worry and fear.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life.
- Social Anxiety Disorder: Intense fear of social interactions and being judged.
- Panic Disorder: Sudden episodes of extreme fear, heart palpitations, and breathlessness.
- Phobias: Irrational fears that interfere with daily life.
Depressive Disorders – The Weight of the World
Depression affects mood, motivation, and daily life, making even simple tasks feel overwhelming.
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, and low energy.
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia): Chronic depression that lingers for years.
ADHD – The Struggle to Focus
ADHD makes it difficult to concentrate, stay organized, and control impulses.
- Inattention: Trouble focusing, following instructions, and completing tasks.
- Hyperactivity: Constant movement, fidgeting, and restlessness.
- Impulsivity: Acting without thinking, interrupting others, and making quick decisions.
Behavioral Disorders – Rebellion or Cry for Help?
Some youth struggle with severe behavioral issues that impact their relationships and future.
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): Frequent anger, arguments with authority, and defiance.
- Conduct Disorder (CD): Aggressive or rule-breaking behavior, deceitfulness, and disregard for consequences.
The Bigger Picture: A Generation in Fear
Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand. Many young people feel overwhelmed by the future:
- AI and automation: The fear of losing jobs to robots and technology.
- Financial insecurity: Student debt and an uncertain job market.
- Global instability: A world filled with rapid change and unpredictability.
Every year, over 1 million young people take their own lives. This is not just a crisis; it’s a call to action.
The Church Must Take Action
The world offers temporary solutions, but true healing comes from faith and community.
Now is the time for the church to:
- Teach a biblical worldview: Help young people understand that God is in control.
- Provide mentorship and support: No one should face mental health struggles alone.
- Engage in the fight for their souls: Offer hope through the Gospel.
Hope is not lost. Healing is possible. But we must act now.
CAN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEARN ITS 2024 LESSONS?
Right now, the Democratic Party is trying to figure out why it lost. Why did they lose so many men to Donald Trump. Younger Gen Z men went to Trump is a large move.
THE DISTURBING FACTS ABOUT GLYPHOSATE AND AUTISM
While researching for my two books on depression I am writing I ran across this information about the health crisis among our children and the role of glyphosate. It has been discovered that Parkinson’s, learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, and many other diseases are linked to glyphosate.
DOES RELIGIOUS PRACTICE LESSEN THE AMOUNT OF DEPRESSION?
Psychiatrists like Sigmond Freud and Albert Ellis argued that religious practices made mental health problems worse. However, this argument was NOT based on rigorous large-scale studies as have been done since the 1980s.
