The Importance of Understanding Mental Health Among Adolescents
Sebastian Jones, Tiffany Lanham, Kristin Glass, and Jeremiah Rosenbrook
The main purpose of this poster is to outline recommendations based on some of the different factors that have a major impact on the mental health of adolescents. Adolescents are introduced to a wide variety of stimuli in their home environment as well as in the outside world that play a major role in development. Based on a literature review, we found that certain experiences were associated with better or worse mental health. Accordingly, the following recommendations are provided based on the existing research: 1) Adolescents will have a more stable view of their own mental health when they have frequent and positive interactions with their immediate friends and parents compared to a counterpart who is having frequent negative interactions with either their friends, parents, or both. 2) If teens choose to use social media for positive reasons, like connecting with friends or bolstering up others, there may be a more favorable impact on their mental health. 3) Adolescents in abusive households need therapy soon after, to be able to cope with their emotions about the situation. 4) Parents need to pay more attention to the video games their children are playing as well as needing to implement a limit to how long they are able to play. Between the ages of 13 and 19, adolescents are introduced to many types of events that will impact their mental health. Although there is no definitive formula that can be replicated for every adolescent, research about this topic is the most efficient way to advise adolescents on how to take care of their mental health.
Sebastian Jones is from Aiken, SC. He is currently a junior pursuing a double major in psychology and sociology. He is a member of the international honors societies Psi Chi (psychology) and Alpha Kappa Delta (sociology). He is also the president of the student organization Young Life.
Tiffany Lanham is currently a sophomore at Lander University. She is pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in human services. She plans to use her degree to counsel veterans and family of military.
Kristin Glass is from Naperville, Illinois. She is currently a junior majoring in psychology with minors in therapeutic horsemanship, human services, and criminal justice. She is on the Lander equestrian team and has been competing in the sport for over 15 years.
Jeremiah Rosenbrook is from Detroit, Michigan. He is currently a sophomore psychology major with a minor in philosophy. This will be his 2nd year on Lander’s men’s rugby team, and his 7th year playing the sport.