Zoloft. Lexapro. Prozac. You’ve seen these names in medicine cabinets, heard them in conversation and may even take them yourself. As years go by, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have become more normalized, and an increasing number of teenagers are taking them. Simultaneously, many teenagers seem to dread starting an antidepressant, whether for fear of numbness, dependency, loss of identity or other major personality changes. Regardless of these concerns, mental illness is an epidemic and must be treated. As different combinations of treatments are seen streaming throughout society, more and more questions arise. Which is more effective, and can someone really manage severe depression with simple holistic treatments?

Since the rollout of the first antidepressant in the 1950s, millions of people around the world have been prescribed medication to combat mental illness. According to The Office of Population Affairs’ most recent study, 13 percent of American adults took antidepressants between 2015 and 2018. Moreso, as of 2021, an estimated 49.5 percent of adolescents have experienced a mental health disorder at some point in their lives, with 32 percent of 13-18-year-olds experiencing an anxiety disorder and 13 percent experiencing some sort of depressive disorder. These numbers continue to increase, leaving millions of teens torn between the best path for treatment.

Mental healthcare is complicated in nature. Individuals grappling with mental illness often associate both the positive and negative aspects of their condition with core elements of their identity. The fear of leaving behind parts of one’s personality perpetuates the narrative that medication fundamentally changes people's personalities. One root of this fear is the perception that mental illness doesn't shape one's identity but rather defines it entirely. School psychologist Madison Braverman understands that mental illness does shape character and identity, but urges students to understand that they are more than their illness.

"You are not your disability," Braverman said. "You don’t have to lose [your identity] by healing, and while mental health struggles are absolutely a part of you, it's all about focusing on your strengths and your superpowers."

While starting a prescription medication can be intimidating, it’s hard to ignore just how life-saving they can be. District-wide mental health coordinator Shuli Lotan clears up falsehoods around medicine.

“Typically, when medication is going to help you, it’s because there's some sort of imbalance in your chemistry, in your body," Lotan said. "So, taking medicine isn’t going to turn you into a fully different person. Really, it’s going to turn you into the person you want to be."

In a country in which Western medicine is often seen as the “right” approach to illness–be it physical, emotional, etc– Americans often overlook alternative ways to healing. While Western medicine uses a drug or treatment to correct one illness, a more holistic approach considers the individual's entire well-being, including their mental, emotional and physical state. It emphasizes natural, plant-based remedies, such as meditation, herb supplements and aromatherapy, among others, instead of synthetic drugs. While more research needs to be done on the efficacy of holistic medicine, centuries of practice support its value. Apart from more traditional practices, more contemporary and widely accepted forms of treatment like talk therapy and mindfulness are wildly helpful in addressing mental health concerns. In one classic study published by the American Psychology Association, a study revealed that 75 percent of patients in talk therapy improved after six months of treatment. This study, among many others like it, reveals just how helpful non-medicinal treatments can be for mental health concerns.

“It’s such a shame that so many people reduce these practices that can have a massive impact on our mental health to ‘woo-woo’ or 'too out-there,’" Lotan said. "Maybe you want to do art therapy or try a somatic approach, which is a really interesting way to treat trauma. Maybe it’s meds, maybe it's herbal remedies, maybe it’s acupuncture. There’s a sort of patience you have to have in exploring what works for you."

At the end of the day, there’s no “right” way to treat mental illness. Chemically, culturally and emotionally, each person is drastically different. No matter the specifics of one’s struggle, being able to utilize outside support is a crucial step to healing. For those who don’t have the resources to do so, Samo offers mental health services within the school.

“Every day, we have drop-in counseling in Admin 513, and there’s a therapist waiting for kids to pop by," Lotan said. "You can try sitting with someone and talking by yourself, and then they can refer you to more ongoing regular counseling if that would benefit you. We also have counseling groups starting up and we are always open to students’ questions or concerns about mental healthcare on campus.”

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