It is typical for children and adolescents to suffer from different kinds of emotional anguish as they grow and mature. For example, it is typical for youngsters to have school anxiety, or for adolescents to experience brief bouts of sadness. When symptoms persist, it is necessary to seek expert help.
One in every four or five youths meets the criteria for a mental health disorder. As a result, they may encounter prejudice and have negative attitudes about themselves. Mental health, like physical health, is more than just the absence of disease or a mental health issue. It consists of emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
Holistic mental health is critical because mental health issues can lead to a range of other issues like substance abuse. This means to be able to support the youth in Venice Beach we need to know what youth programs are being offered, what substance abuse is and what it looks like in youth, as well as how to help prepare youth who need to attend a rehab program.
What Youth Programs Are Offered in Venice Beach?
If we know of a youth that is suffering from homelessness, we might get them connected with Safe Place for Youth (SPY) which empowers young people experiencing homelessness to thrive by providing lasting, community-driven solutions that address racial and social inequity. If we know a youth that needs personal development, we might recommend the Boys & Girls Club of Venice. This is a program that enables youth to become proficient in basic professional disciplines, set goals, explore careers, and prepare for employment.
Sometimes we know a youth who is in crisis and who needs additional support. Youth might be struggling with mental health issues. In other cases, we may know a youth who is struggling with addiction. In such cases we might recommend a rehab center near Hemet, Temecula, or a similar place close enough to home to drive but far enough to get some distance from home. To really support the youth of Venice Beach, it is critical that we dive deeply into the challenges that they are facing. This will enable us to understand why some are struggling with substance abuse.
What Is Substance Abuse?
Problematic patterns of substance use among kids can create or exacerbate physical and mental health concerns. They also promote poor peer interactions, cause motor vehicle accidents, and inflict stress on the whole family. They can lead to long-term problems like substance abuse, chronic health problems, as well as social and financial ramifications. Substance abuse is a dangerous pattern of consuming substances like tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription medicines to a degree that causes impairment or distress.
How To Know When Youth Have a Problem?
Addiction in a child can destroy the fabric of trust so essential in a family. Parents must look for signs, like tardiness and attendance problems or a drop in grades. When a child starts abusing alcohol or drugs, one of two things usually happens: The friend group either changes radically, or children become ultra-secretive about their addictions. Many young people with drug abuse issues will search the medicine cabinet at home, while at relatives, with friends, or even while babysitting. Young people are savvy about what medications will get them high, like ADHD medication and pain pills. A licensed mental health practitioner can help determine whether mental health issues are a concern for such youth and if so, they can make recommendations for appropriate treatment.
How Can We Prepare Youth for Entering a Rehab Program?
Sometimes we find that youth need support beyond what we can provide. In such cases we might look at the various available rehab programs. People seeking addiction help will find that the most effective rehab facilities offer longer programs that help them step off drugs with as little trauma as possible. Such programs offer medical and mental health support throughout the process to ensure there are no harmful side effects and that the process is completed. No two treatment plans are exactly alike because the underlying issues, trauma, and experiences of each person addicted to drugs are very different. They may also experience specialized therapy like art therapy or horse therapy as they learn to cope with the real world again. Each person will be given a plan for sobriety when they leave the facility.
