Are Affluent Teens The Latest Victims Of Mental Illness?

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Mon, 24 Jul 2006 12:24:50 -0000

[sSRI-Research] " Are Affluent Teens The Latest Victims Of

Mental Illness? "

 

 

 

 

 

Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:08 pm (PST)

 

July 23, 2006

 

" Are Affluent Teens The Latest Victims Of Mental Illness? "

 

By: Tony Zizza

Email Address: tz777

 

Just when I thought I had emotionally recovered from learning that at

least 25 percent of all kids in summer camp are on psych meds,

another article in an American newspaper convinces me further that we

are indeed one nation - under medication.

 

According to today's edition of The Atlanta Journal-

Constitution, " Extraordinary numbers of affluent teenagers suffer

from depression, anxiety and other emotional illnesses, says an

alarming new book, in part because they are more connected to objects

than to people. "

 

I can appreciate some of the concerns that psychologist Madeline

Levine has within this newspaper article written by Richard Halicks,

( " Teens of means " ), which refers liberally to her book, " The Price of

Privilege. " Especially, when she notes the insidiousness of the self

esteem movement as it relates to children.

 

However, I wonder if we can go a whole week in this country without

learning that yet another large segment of the population is now

deemed mentally ill. ADHD kids. Adults who take a dangerous drug

called Prozac because for some reason they cannot " contain " anger

while driving an automobile. Now, we're supposed to believe without

any doubt that 30 to 40 percent of affluent teenagers suffer from

depression and anxiety. I don't think so. It's time that we reject

subjective numbers concerning who is mentally ill, just as much as we

call into question psychiatric drugs.

 

I mean, let's get real. We're actually supposed to believe an

affluent teenager is one whose parents make $120,000.00 a year. That

could very well be two parents making this money before taxes. Also,

observe the word affluent. It seems everytime there is a media blitz

concerning a new mental health diagnosis, study, survey, or drug,

word useage is very colorful. Well, color me cynical, but these new

victims of mental illness, " Teens of means " are just another vehicle

being used to drive us into unconditionally thinking that we are all,

at some level and all of the time, mentally ill.

 

If you want to really talk about turning teenagers around from a road

of depressed feelings, the answer is not drugs. There's certainly

nothing wrong with talk therapy. I will forever love the message set

forth in the movie, " Good Will Hunting. " Too bad, some adults are

such lousy parents they say they don't have time to spend with their

kids, but they do have time to get them hooked on psych drugs. What

gives? Psych drugs are a horrible alternative to an adult putting

their time in to be a parent, rather than a buddy, to their children.

 

Again, what has become of us as a nation when a week does not go by

without huge numbers of children being labeled as mentally ill or

emotionally at-risk? Interestingly, many articles and news stories

concerning children and mental illness are put out in the public eye

in the summer. Are we being smoothed over in some way before we send

little Johhny or Jane back to school? Are we being fed a lot of junk

science that tastes just as bad as a school lunch? Of course. These

days, your children are more identified with having an emotional

disorder they unquestionably suffer from, than they are as having the

capability to reach their goals.

 

I've also noticed that when an allegedly new mental disorder is

talked about or hinted at, the worst extreme case will be used as a

basis for a large group of people suffering from it. That is, some

kids will cut themselves. This is sad. Some kids will start drinking

or smoking dope. This is not good either. No one is saying that being

a teenager is easy, and being a parent to a teenager is an easy ride.

The truth is perhaps this: we all know at some level within ourselves

when we are doing what we should be doing, and when we are not doing

the things we know to be right. It's okay to regroup and start over.

Just don't start handing out pills, okay?

 

Unfortunately, everything we say, think, feel, or wonder about can be

identified as a mental disorder. It used to be fine to admit you

weren't doing your job as a parent. Go ahead and make changes. No one

is perfect. Just don't fall for the trick your family suffers from a

relational disorder. Nowadays, it's more than chic to remain a lousy

parent and admit that your affluent teenager is no different than

millions of other Americans who claim to be depressed or anxious to

the point of needing treatment. Where did all this begin? Or more

importantly, when will it all end?

 

I think we will start feeling better when everyone is held

accountable for their actions and inactions. We can be better parents

if we want to. Children know they have the ability to be better

children. It doesn't matter if your family income is $120,000.00 a

year or not even close to that. Or far more. The cat is completely

out of the bag now that everyone is a target to the mental health

field. Everything is viewed through the prism of alleged mental

illness. Affluent teenagers are just today's advertising copy for the

next psych drug and insurance billing code.

 

Zizza serves as the Vice President of Georgia for the nonprofit

organization, Parents for Label and Drug Free Education. Web site:

http://www.ablechild.org

 

Read Zizza's " Think Twice " column at:

http://www.ablechild.org/newsarchive.htm