Mental health problems increase among young people in Yucatan

It is important to take them to the psychologist, timely treatment can make a difference in their quality of life in the future

MÉRIDA, Yucatán, (December 06, 2021).- Due to poverty, abuse or violence in its different forms, mental health problems are growing in young people throughout the country, including Yucatán, according to mental health specialists. 

In Mexico, according to a survey by the National Institute of Psychiatry “Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz”, 51 percent of those interviewed were found to have had some type of disorder.

Regarding the figures, 40.6 percent of the young people surveyed had had an anxiety disorder, 20.0 percent had impulsivity, 10.7 percent had had an affective disorder, and 4.8 percent had had a substance use disorder. 

The emeritus professor of the Faculty of Psychology of the UNAM, Juan José Sánchez Sosa; and the head of the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health of the Faculty of Medicine of the UNAM, José Benjamín Guerrero López, announced that mental disorders represent 16 percent of the global burden of diseases and injuries in adolescents.

They detailed that half of mental disorders begin at 14 years of age or earlier, and in most cases they are not detected in a timely manner or treated. 

According to the World Health Organization, not addressing them has consequences that extend into adulthood.

Most frequent problems among young people

José Benjamín Guerrero López indicated that the most frequent problems detected are: depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide attempts, violence, alcohol and substance use, borderline personality disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Better go to the psychologist

“Taking care of our mental health will lead us to have a satisfactory life, with good relationships, with a feeling of well-being in front of others and our lives,” said Juan José Sánchez Sosa.

The emeritus professor of the Faculty of Psychology stressed the importance of replacing the old idea that going to the psychologist or psychiatrist is because one is “crazy.”

There are experts who can help us to recognize “what kind of aspects should I notice in myself or in the people I live with, in order to take care of myself on time and continue to function in the family, work and community, and reduce the future probability of developing this type of disorders, ” he said.

Prevention must start now, at school and in the family. “We must pay attention to what we do, what we feel, what we think, how we interact with the people we live and work with, and bear in mind that there are specialists who can help not only address a mental health problem, but also to continue well and improve ”, explained the expert.

“It is essential to protect young people from adverse experiences and risk factors that can affect their ability to develop their full potential,” concluded Juan José Sánchez Sosa.

Source: Sipse

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