Walking through the halls, you may often judge someone by their seclusion from other or their lack of confidence. But what you may not realize is behind the scenes that they may have much more going on then you could realize.

Some people don’t realize when they say “oh that’s just my OCD” or “I’m being a little BP right now” that it makes those with these conditions feel worse and more out of place then they already do.

According to the CDC,20% of kids 14-18 have a mental disorder and suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. 50% of people with bipolar disease have had a suicide attempt, according to the Psychiatric Times.

Approximately 20% of teens experience depression before they reach adulthood, and between 10 to 15 percent suffer from symptoms at any one time , according to TeenHelp.

OCD obsessions are persistent, uncontrollable thoughts, impulses, or images that are intrusive, unwanted and disturbing, according to NIHM.org. They cause anxiety or discomfort that significantly interferes with normal life.

Living with mental disorders as a teenagers can be especially hard, often because hormones are already increased and the stress of school and social judgment from peers. They can also be triggered by someone’s home life.

Eating disorders are not a light issue, as most people try to hide them because they are afraid of getting helped and being judged. NIHM.org provides accurate information and resources about every mental illness that exists.

An eating disorder is a focus on food and weight that causes a person to go to extremes when it comes to food and eating. Three of the most common eating disorders are binge eating disorder, bulimia, and anorexia. They often develop during the teenage years.

They are more common among teenage girls but can affect teenage boys, too. Only 10% of eating disorders are males, while 90% are females. 1 in 200 American females have an eating disorder. They can be very stressful and damaging to a teen’s overall well-being. The social effects include low self-esteem and isolation. Eating disorders can cause serious health problems that can become life-threating the common age of eating disorders is 12-25.

While, mental illnesses can seem daunting, students need to realize there are resources for them to reach out for help. So next time you see someone act a little off from what others are doing, just remember what they are dealing with may be something you can not see.