Mental health in general is stigmatized and controversial. There is not enough awareness brought to it especially for teens and adolescents and it isn't normalized. Based on an article written by the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 49.5% of adolescents have any mental disorder and of those, an estimated 22.2% had severe impairment. Many parents don't validate or even acknowledge mental health as a problem and just see it as "the teenage mind" or "just a phase." Not having a strong support system or any support system in place can lead to feelings of isolation and can lead to depression. There can be many reasons for one to develop feelings of lonlinessness or stress or even suicial thoughts like problems at school, conflict at home, loss, and issues in relationships or friendships. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illnesses and disability in adolescents and teens. Failure to address the mental health conditions of adolescents can extend to adulthood, affecting both physical and mental health and limiting oppurtunities to lead to fulfilling lives as adults. 

So what can we do to help? There are many organizations and support groups to help with a variety of different situations if needed.

https://greatnonprofits.org/city/durham/NC/category:mental-health/sort:review_count/direction:desc ​

https://elfuturo-nc.org/

There are also charities and non-profit organizations where many can volunteer or donate to. 

https://namidurhamnc.org/get-involved/donate/