EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The conversation around mental health continues, especially concerning the youth in our community.
The National Alliance on Mental Health in El Paso says it’s never too soon to start talking about mental well-being.
Isidro Torres, executive director of NAMI, said “50 percent of lifetime mental health cases begin by the age of 14 and 75 percent by the age of 24.”
Torres said signs that someone is struggling will not always be blatant, sometimes they can be subtle and take the form of behaviors instead of verbal outbursts.
“When you look at teen mental health, some of the signs you may want to look at is if they’re withdrawing themselves, isolating themselves or knowing their change in mood is lasting long periods of time, or they’re taking on more risky behavior. Those are things we want to look at and say “hey, is there anything going on? Is there anything I can help you with?” Torres said.
Parents, family members and anyone else who regularly interacts with teenagers and youth can start a conversation with someone who is showing signs of concern by coming from an angle of support. Torres said staying transparent and honest will go a long way.
“As we have come out of the pandemic, we’ve noticed an increase in conversations when it comes to mental health, and that is something that we hope will continue. Having those conversations with teens about the stigma, the culture, and different backgrounds where we come from can have an impact on that, but as long as we continue to have to conversations and having them early while being open and honest, we hope to minimize the stigma and misconceptions around mental health,” Torres said.
Starting Tuesday, Feb. 20, the organization will be starting a new NAMI basics class. The 6-week course caters to parents or guardians who take care of anyone under the age of 22 who may be experiencing mental health challenges.
For more mental health resources, the community can visit namiep.org.
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