Need for Therapy Rises Across North Dakota

All around the world there are students suffering from mental illnesses. In 2019, 61.2% of students in North Dakota reported that they struggle with mental health issues and a majority of students have turned to therapy to help. Recently, there has been a significant increase in students who see therapists, but yet, people are still not talking about therapy in a positive manner.

According to the Center of Disease Control, going to a specialized doctor like a psychiatrist or therapist has shown significant results in mental health in people, especially students. Teenagers are always told that these years are supposed to be stress free. So it comes to no surprise that students are afraid to talk about their emotions when feeling anxious or stressed.

“Pre-teens and teenagers sometimes struggle to talk to their parents about everything, so having an unbiased third party to just discuss and talk about things with is important” Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Brittany Tofsrud said.

Life can get stressful. Seeing a therapist, for many, can relieve a load of stress that is built up over time from school, extra curricular activities, work and other things.

“It is good that mental health help is out there,” Doe said. “It is just as important as your physical health.”

Besides school, students may face challenges like traumatic events that could leave students feeling unsafe, anxious, or even leaving them with PTSD. According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) two-thirds of children have reported at least one traumatic event by the age 16.

“It helps a lot because they have certain techniques that can help you walk through and explain what you have been through and will help you come up with ways to cope with it,” Becky Smith said.

There are times that teenagers do not feel comfortable talking to their parents about their struggles. Therapy can act as a resource for teens that want an outside look on a topic.

“I think therapy can benefit anyone who feels like they just need someone unbiased to talk to and help work through any personal struggles,” Jane Doe said. “I always feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after I leave.”

Students may feel a sense of relief after each session talking to their therapist. This can be beneficial for the overall well-being of teenager’s health.

“I don’t know if anyone would want to prevent going to therapy, honestly. It can be so helpful in so many ways,” Tofsrud said.

61.2% of students in North Dakota report that they struggle with their mental health.

Two-thirds of children have reported at least one traumatic event by the age of 16.

1 in every 5 young people suffer from some form of diagnosable mental illness

1 in 3 high school students have experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

Data from cdc.org

This infographic reveals shattering statistics about mental health across North Dakota.

February 2023