In today's modern age, mental health is increasingly growing into a problem that affects most of us. Teenagers especially struggle to maintain the perfect image, while they are breaking on the inside, due to their slowly deteriorating mental health.

Going to therapy doesn't seem to be the solution: Financially out of reach for most teenagers, and judgmental preconceptions about the actual meaning of therapy, it drives teenagers away from even reaching out or trying.

Urgent Need for Therapy

A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that 12.5% of US adolescents are estimated to have had a major depressive episode in 2015, the numbers growing exponentially since then.

One in five high school students seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to a National Health Interview Survey, only 13.8% of teenagers aged 5-17 received counselling or therapy.

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This discrepancy highlights an urgent need for therapy among teenagers. Generationally, environmentally, and socially accumulated trauma is much more common among teenagers of new generations than in the past.

Socio-economic differences lead to children experiencing bullying in schools because of their wealth or the lack of it. Connecting with parents and finding common ground can be challenging for teenagers due to their differing perspectives, which often leads to strained relationships with parents.

Factors such as the community we live in or major political events that teenagers experience further affect a young child's mental health. I certainly don't want to diminish the hardships our parents, grandparents, or other older relatives have gone through, as those were some unimaginably hard experiences.

What I want to underline is the constant pressure and insecurity that affects teenagers: politically, socially, financially, economically - everybody is talking about the "end of the world". Not only that, but the mediatization doesn't make anything easier, because knowing that not only your country has problems, but others have them too, or even multiply. Taking part in everything that is going on right now, virtually or personally, affects a young teenager's mental health.

Approximately half of all lifetime psychiatric disorders begin by age 14, signifying that we must raise awareness about childhood mental health, as the presence of these disorders further complicates and worsens mental health outcomes when not addressed.

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Financial Barriers in Therapy

On average, a therapy session costs between $100 and $200. In comparison, the median monthly income of U.S. households is around $7000, while the average monthly expenses for a family of four are about $8500. This means that, for many households, the financial situation is already tight. So the question arises: how do teenagers access therapy when they urgently need it but have little to no money?

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The first thought might be health insurance, but there's a catch: many insurance plans don't fully cover mental health services or limit the number of sessions per year. Teenagers from low-income households often don't benefit from parental insurance and may have no coverage at all.

Another apparent solution would be school-based therapy. While it removes financial barriers, teenagers often face social stigma from their peers, which creates social obstacles in treatment.

Social Barriers in Therapy

Therapists are often called "shrinks" in a rather dismissive way, showing how the idea of "therapy" is met with judgment, criticism, and misunderstanding. Many people see going to therapy as a sign of weakness. In reality, only the most courageous and strong people are ready to accept that they need help and actually seek it.

Sadly, most people realise their need for support only later on in adulthood, long after their teenage self has fought silent and lonely battles with unaddressed mental health challenges.

Alternatives for Teenagers

Considering the financial and social barriers that prevent so many teenagers from accessing therapy, initiatives like Sukoon Therapy might be the new therapy.

Sukoon Therapy is a mental health service dedicated to promoting inner peace and emotional healing. It combines various therapeutic approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed care, and mindfulness practices to provide a comprehensive approach to mental health.

Through Sukoon Space, a developing online platform, teenagers worldwide can access affordable, high-quality therapy - breaking down the social and financial barriers that have so long held them back from getting help.

Another therapeutic alternative for teenagers would be online therapy. While it may have a price, it certainly isn't as high as the "normal" therapy session. Teenagers can look up a therapist online who meets their financial possibilities, while also keeping it private, avoiding any stigma or stereotype from peers.

And here's a reminder: talk to someone. Always talk to someone. Go to your best friend, to your sibling, to anyone at all.

It is always better to share your emotions - don't ever try to carry all the weight on your own, because there are people who would love to help. You are not alone.

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Conclusion

Mental health looks different to everyone, and every teenager is subjected to different factors that affect their inner emotional peace. Having to pretend that you're okay, while everything is falling apart inside, only out of lack of money or out of fear of judgment, is the sad reality most teenagers live in.

This article is a call for justice for every teenager who had to learn that the monsters under their bed were never as scary as those in their head. It's an injustice to have your adolescence destroyed by the struggles of unattended mental health conditions. It is time to make therapy accessible for everyone, as therapy must be a universal right, not a privilege.