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Mentoring may prevent kids from developing mental illnesses

By Staff Writer

Many children are at-risk of developing conditions, such as anxiety and depression, as a result of environmental factors or trauma. Although antidepressants and counseling may be able to help kids who suffer from these conditions, mentoring might prevent them from developing altogether.

Duncan Campbell, an entrepreneur, established a salary-based mentoring program in the Portland and Seattle areas in an effort to reach out to troubled kids. Campbell pulled students from rough school systems to provide them with mentors and determine if the process actually works, according to KUOW-FM. He followed individuals enrolled in the program for years, only to find that the system did not only keep kids out of trouble, but also helped them tackle behavioral issues.

Campbell noted that although mentoring can be hit or miss, it can take years before he discovers if his program has helped a child avoid mental illness in adulthood. He told the news source that the process takes patience, but it is well worth it to see a kid grow into a functioning adult.

Major depressive disorder is the number one cause of disability in Americans between the ages of 15 and 44, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Counseling and mentoring can help kids who have endured trauma avoid developing depression.

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