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Choose Healing, Over Hiding
RISK + PROTECTIVE FACTORS
One of Mind Over Matter's primary goals is to raise awareness about the factors that contribute to low-level depressive symptoms and dysthymia. By understanding these risk factors and countering them with protective strategies, we can help individuals create a healthier balance in their lives. Low-level depressive symptoms often persist when the challenges go unrecognized, leading to feelings of stagnation, isolation, and decreased well-being.
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Risk factors are elements that increase the likelihood of experiencing or worsening depressive symptoms. These can be biological, psychological, or social in nature and can stem from personal experiences, family dynamics, or environmental influences. Without intervention, these factors can compound and lead to a cycle of emotional struggle.​​​​
Our Main Risk Factors Include:
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Chronic stress or emotional overwhelm
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Persistent feelings of isolation or loneliness
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Lack of structure or difficulty maintaining routines
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Unresolved emotional conflicts or negative self-perception
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​Protective factors, on the other hand, are strategies or elements that reduce the impact of risk factors and promote resilience. These include:​​​
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Building supportive relationships
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Practicing mindfulness or stress-management techniques
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Establishing consistent routines
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Seeking professional help when needed
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​​​ These risk factors can impact both mental and physical health. Chronic stress and emotional overwhelm, for instance, can hinder one’s ability to focus on self-care and build positive coping mechanisms. Loneliness often exacerbates self-critical thoughts, leading to further disconnection. A lack of structure makes it challenging to form habits that promote well-being, leaving individuals feeling stuck.
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By addressing risk factors and prioritizing protective measures, we can empower individuals to navigate their mental health journeys with strength and hope. At Mind Over Matter, we are committed to providing the tools and resources to make this possible.
Our
Story
How We Chose Our Risk + Protective Factors
Through reviewing the Dysthymia Statistics report, we came to understand the profound psychosocial impacts of friends, family, relationships, school, and social media, on teen mental health, particularly in relation to low-level depressive symptoms and dysthymia. Both team members, Talia and Sachin, reflected on past conversations with their mental health consultants, Dr. Liguori and psychologist Emily Kauth, about how self-criticism and isolation often contribute to these conditions—whether stemming from school or other circumstances. As a team, we recognized patterns of negative self-talk, disconnection, and loneliness within our community, all of which are closely tied to the persistence of dysthymia and mild depressive symptoms. We felt strongly that these issues needed to be addressed.
After further exploration, we identified mindfulness and everyday routines as potential protective factors to combat these challenges. We chose these strategies because they are both accessible and effective, especially for individuals hesitant to seek professional therapy due to societal stigma. By introducing simple mindfulness techniques, we aimed to provide a gentle way for our peers to engage with mental health practices and potentially ease their transition into professional therapy if needed.
To deepen our understanding and strengthen our approach, we conducted our own research study through the months of September-January. Click here to learn more about our findings!