Adolescence
Today’s topic is a continuation of our discussion regarding the common health related problems that adolescents usually encounter. These problems are: eating disorders, accidents, smoking and vaping, drugs and alcohol abuse. Today, we will talk on mental and adaptation difficulties and on sexuality.
Adolescence is a critical period of the biological, psychological, emotional and social change for an individual.
These adolescents are used to be life-centered but as they grow, they are exposed to the outside environment and they get to interact with other people of various cultures and personalities.
These scenarios could cause a drastic change and may result to problems and complications that some adolescents may not handle so well.
It is in this time, that mental stress may come in. Mental stress could manifest vaguely as body malaise and feeling of no interest at all and are often overlooked or missed.
In severe cases, this may lead to severe depression that may initially present as non-specific abdominal discomfort or pain, headache, eating disorders, drugs, poor attention span and lack of concentration.
Therefore, adults should have a deeper understanding of adolescent problems in a rapidly changing society.
Adolescence is the period where the sexual urge increases greatly. It is in this stage that an individual is so curious about sex and they do a lot of experimentation.
Thus, it is our role as responsible adults to educate them about sex. We should make them aware of conditions like teenage pregnancies, childbirth and teenage parenthood.
Adolescents should know the medical and health consequences like:
- low birth weight of children
- higher infant mortality rates
- birth defects and mental retardation
- high incidence of malnutrition
- anemia
- high maternal death risks
Therefore, it is of utmost importance that family life and sex education be included in schools at all levels.