By Anna Matson, staff writer
In Kenosha it can be difficult for minors to get the mental health treatment they need because of their age and a lack of qualified resources in the area.
The reasons for certain individuals’ struggles may vary, but a lack of child psychologists in the area causes issues for children which then impacts the community, said Becky Burdette, Indian Trail High School & Academy’s school psychologist.
“Mental health issues are often misunderstood… which is why they are trying to train some local law enforcement to see that,” Burdette said.
Some parents would try to put their children into sports or other constructive activities to help them with their problems.
“I was in contact sports like football, MMA, and such, so it helped me have an outlet for my anger issues. Also, it kept me focused on winning and being the best me I can be,” said a freshman student.
The long wait to see qualified professionals is one of the challenges some teens here are facing.
“My mom has been trying to get me in to see a psychiatrist for months,” said a senior student. “But whenever she calls anywhere about it, they either don’t answer or tell her I would have to wait months and they would have to kick me out when I turn 18 anyways.”
Some people don’t do well with certain therapists due to a lack of trust, often caused by the therapist being able to tell parents of sessions.
A former student reflects on his experience with his therapist during high school.
“Basically, when I went it felt like I didn’t get anywhere with it and that I couldn’t really open up to my therapist. Also, whenever I did tell him about my problems, he’d try to talk about the one that really plagued me the least, but I never felt really comfortable telling him that wasn’t really the main issue,” the Indian Trail alum said.
But many teens who receive consistent professional treatment respond well and report improved attitudes and outlooks.
“Seeing a psychiatrist helps a lot actually. It feels like someone is really listening,” said an IT senior.
According to the National Institute of Health, in a recent study 82 percent of depressed teens improved after a combination of treatments were used, and the teens maintained their improved status for 36 weeks.
“After six months of treatment with my therapist, I have seen an honest change in how I’ve been acting, and even an improvement with my grades. I feel I have made a major improvement,” said a junior student.
The need for teens to have greater access to mental health care professionals is real.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 6 percent of Wisconsin high school students report they attempted suicide at least once.
“Some of the issues students here have are anxiety, depression, and poor relationships with peers and parents. They can be caused by school stress, stress to make good grades for college, and families that spread themselves too thin,” said Burdette.
Students who have mental health issues could seek help through support groups, churches, or the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI).
They could also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273- 8255; whether you are suicidal or not, the people answering your call will talk to you about your problems.