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School Head: Teens Pathologize Normal Growing Pains
7 Dec
Summary
- Headmaster warns teens are over-diagnosed with mental health issues.
- Social media is teaching teens language to self-diagnose anxiety.
- Normal adolescent struggles are being 'pathologized' as chronic.
- Concerns raised about over-medication for non-chronic symptoms.
A prominent headmaster has voiced concerns over the increasing tendency to over-diagnose teenagers with mental health conditions. He argues that many perceived issues are merely the natural ups and downs of adolescence, a period inherently fraught with emotional fluctuations. This trend is exacerbated by social media, which provides young people with terminology that can lead to convincing self-diagnosis and pathologization of normal feelings.
This phenomenon, dubbed the 'TikTok-ification of mental health diagnosis,' encourages quick self-assessment via online content. The headmaster questions whether society is too quick to label young individuals experiencing typical sadness or anxiety, and he also ponders the extent of over-medication for non-chronic symptoms. He differentiates these normal experiences from chronic conditions requiring professional intervention.
The school he leads actively engages students in discussions about human emotions and the process of growing up, drawing parallels to ancient philosophical inquiries. He emphasizes the importance of schools equipping students with life skills and character development alongside academic education, ensuring they are prepared for a flourishing human existence beyond exam results.
