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Introduction to adolescent mental health
Introduction to adolescent mental health

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6 Summary of Session 1

The main learning points of this first session are:

  • The percentage of adolescents experiencing mental health problems has risen steadily since 1999, as surveys carried out in England have shown. There are differences between boys and girls in the ages at which problems develop.
  • Mental health comes under the umbrella of overall health, and cannot easily be separated from physical health. Mental health problems can interfere with a person’s daily activity and ability to function.
  • Treatment of mental health problems has been based historically on a range of beliefs about what is causing the problem, from religion and superstition, to psychology and medical explanations. Although it is now widely accepted that one of the first solutions to preventing or supporting a mental health problem is to talk about it, stigma often prevents people opening up about their problems.
  • The ambition of policymakers is to revolutionise mental health care and to make it designed around the needs of citizens and to help promote good mental health.

In the next session, you will explore adolescence. What is adolescence, and what is normal behaviour during this transitional stage of development? Some of the mysteries of the adolescent brain will be revealed, and you will come to understand that this is a special and important time in a person’s development.

Now move on to Session 2 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .