The increase in mental problems in teenagers can be sourced from the insufficient number of studies on teenage mental struggles in the previous years. However, modern teenagers experience significantly more pressure from the environment than ever. With most communication with peers taking place in the online format, modern teenagers experience difficulties making reliable supporting connections with peers due to a lack of communication skills and self-esteem. Loneliness and social isolation cause higher chances of developing depression and anxiety (Loades et al., 2020). Furthermore, during depressive episodes, teenagers are less likely to socialize with others because, in this way, they can feel even more lonely (Achterbergh et al., 2020). Thus, in choosing the therapy method for treatment of depressive mood disorder in teenagers, I prioritized the method that will help them build reliable connections with teenagers with similar problems to encourage open communication.
Next, in choosing the treatment method for bipolar disorder, I wanted the treatment to be approachable and relaxing. Creative art therapy is highly beneficial for reducing the symptoms and improving the functioning of individuals with severe mental illnesses (Chiang et al., 2019). Teenagers with bipolar disorder tend to experience intense mood swings, which can negatively influence their relationships with others. Thus, bipolar disorder treatments often focus on developing emotional regulation skills to obtain a state of stability. Creative art therapy presents a low-risk method that can both improve teenagers’ emotional control and reduce the disorder symptoms by developing their sense of self-awareness and helping them communicate with peers.
Furthermore, in the process of creating the brochure, I chose a relevant minimalistic style with simple font and design to emphasize the transparency in the agency’s relationships with clients. The discreet accent colors of the brochure and simplicity in design signal the non-threatening character of the treatment methods. Lastly, including teenagers’ pictures conveys the idea that the agency is sympathetic to teenagers’ problems and that all their concerns will be heard.
References
Achterbergh, L., Pitman, A., Birken, M., Pearce, E., Sno, H., & Johnson, S. (2020). The experience of loneliness among young people with depression: a qualitative meta-synthesis of the literature. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), 1-23. Web.
Chiang, M., Reid-Varley, W. B., & Fan, X. (2019). Creative art therapy for mental illness. Psychiatry Research, 275, 129–136. Web.
Loades, M. E., Chatburn, E., Higson-Sweeney, N., Reynolds, S., Shafran, R., Brigden, A., Linney, C., McManus, M. N., Borwick, C., & Crawley, E. (2020). Rapid systematic review: The impact of social isolation and loneliness on the mental health of children and adolescents in the context of COVID-19. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(11), 1-38. Web.