In the midst of a largely silent epidemic, our community’s adolescents confront a profound mental health crisis that permeates every socioeconomic stratum. While statistics paint a stark picture—nearly 20% of sixth graders in the Washington Healthy Youth Survey contemplate suicide, and a 47% surge in fentanyl overdose deaths grips King County in 2023—these figures merely scratch the surface of the human toll.
Meet Lucas (pseudonym used for confidentiality), a seemingly typical 17-year-old from Bellevue. Externally, he navigated through life’s challenges with the veneer of ordinary teenage struggles: school pressures, social setbacks. Yet, beneath this facade lay a profound internal anguish—a sensation akin to hitting a brick wall. Matters took a grave turn when discussions of “ending it” permeated his conversations. Lucas and his parents turned to Youth Eastside Services, where I serve as a counselor and CEO, prompted by concerns raised by a school counselor and a concerned friend.
This is the crux of the matter: as we grapple for solutions, how do we navigate the labyrinth of adolescent mental health? What interventions can bridge the gap for teenagers grappling with mental health issues? How do we destigmatize counseling and render it more accessible to minors? These questions are not only pertinent but also imperative. However, the stark reality is that mental health struggles often evade detection, presenting no overt signals or red flags. Thus, the pivotal question arises: how do we connect with someone in the throes of despair? How do we penetrate the surface and unravel the depths of a young person’s turmoil?
The answer may lie in a deceptively simple gesture: asking, “How are you doing?”
At first glance, this solution appears too facile. Yet, consider the plight of young individuals ensnared in silence within a society that shrouds mental health discussions in stigma. Adults, daunted by the prospect of grappling with difficult conversations, shy away from broaching the subject. It’s the fear of the unknown, the fear of confronting uncomfortable truths, the fear of being ill-equipped to respond.
In essence, it’s the fear of fear itself.
