Faced with the stresses of adult life it can be easy to dismiss a teenagerB次元官网网址檚 problems as kids stuff, but school counsellors know better.

Belmont secondary school counsellor Natalie Handy said she sees firsthand the variety of mental health problems teenagers suffer from.

B次元官网网址淵ou can bring in a student to talk about timetables and you can end with a completely different conversation about abuse thatB次元官网网址檚 going on in the home or suicide ideation or eating disorders. You never know where the conversation is going to go.B次元官网网址�

Belmont secondary marked last TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 national Child and Youth Mental Health Day with a youth mental health information booth set up outside during the schoolB次元官网网址檚 lunch break.

The lure of free treats and swag brought students over, but once hooked the counsellors were ready with pamphlets and information on resources available to youth who feel as though they might need some help.

The giveaways for students were donated by a number of local businesses.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e very aware and clear with kids that we donB次元官网网址檛 want them taking this information away to self-diagnose,B次元官网网址� Handy said. B次元官网网址淏ut we do want them to have the information to access a lot of resources B次元官网网址� to follow up with us or a family doctor.B次元官网网址�

The booth proved popular, with a few hundred students showing up to grab a treat and information.

Handy believes we, as a society, donB次元官网网址檛 recognize or talk about how a big a problem mental health issues are for todayB次元官网网址檚 youth. Adults donB次元官网网址檛 realize just how much stress young people can be under, said Handy, whether itB次元官网网址檚 related to academics, relationships, home life, peer pressures, societal pressures or all of the above.

The popularization of social media and the frenetic immediacy of modern culture is also taking away from a teenB次元官网网址檚 time to reflect, to process information, which can add to the stress.

B次元官网网址淭here needs to be time to reflect, there needs to be time to pause and understand whatB次元官网网址檚 going on, because itB次元官网网址檚 all happening so fast,B次元官网网址� Handy said. B次元官网网址淵ou see a lot of anxiety, lots of depression in our youth.B次元官网网址�

Larger mental health issues, such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder, also often first arise during the teenage years. Early detection is key, so the more students know, and the less stigma that surrounds admitting to mental health problems, the higher the likelihood a student will seek help.

B次元官网网址淚 think as a group we just need to find more ways to reach out to kids and their families.B次元官网网址�

Help is a call away

n Teens who feel they may need help with anxiety, depression or any other mental health issues are advised to see a school counsellor or family doctor, but initial information can be easily found at the Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) or online at keltymentalhealth.ca or youth.anxietybc.com

B次元官网网址淭alk to somebody, pick up the phone and call a help line, or come and talk (to a counsellor). ItB次元官网网址檚 about taking that first step, and I know how difficult it is, but itB次元官网网址檚 so important,B次元官网网址� Handy said.