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Recent insights into teenage mental health reveal a sobering reality: young men are grappling with depression and anxiety at rates comparable to their female counterparts. Yet, many boys face undetected mental health challenges, lacking the support and intervention they desperately need.
Boys may express mental distress through irritability, aggression, and impulsivity rather than traditional signs of sadness. Evidence suggests that boys' mental health issues are often overlooked. Unfortunately, this often leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Disappearing from Treatment
A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics found an interesting and troubling trend. Antidepressant prescriptions rose dramatically for teenage girls and women in their 20's. However, the rate of these prescriptions for young men declined significantly during covid and did not recover.
This would typically lead you to assume that mental health for that patient population had improved. But considering research has shown covid had a negative effect on everyone's mental health this theory does not hold much water. What experts believe happened is that young men stopped engaging with the health care system altogether. This then lead to an under-detection and undertreatment of mental health problems.
Advice for Parents
Doctors encourage parents to validate boys' emotions and provide outlets for expression, even if they don't fit traditional stereotypes. Listening without judgment and permitting alternative outlets, such as online gaming or physical activities, can help boys cope with their emotions.
Recognizing and addressing teenage boys' mental health struggles is essential for their well-being. By understanding the unique ways boys express distress and providing supportive environments for expression, caregivers can help lessen the impact of depression and anxiety on young men's lives.
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