Recent data reveal a disturbing trend: more than 40% of youth reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless and many seriously considered suicide. To tackle this crisis, we need to focus on prevention and intervention efforts.
Research should expand our understanding of how social media and digital technology impact youth mental health. Also, programs should identify and address the unique needs of underserved populations.
Adolescence is a time of transition
Adolescence is one of the most important periods in life, but it can also be one of the most challenging. Many young people develop mental health issues during this time. These disorders can interfere with their ability to learn and make decisions, as well as affect their relationships with others. They may also feel isolated from family and social networks.
Mental health promotion and prevention programs can help youths learn resilience and develop alternatives to risk-taking behaviors. They can also build supportive environments and communities that promote mental stability. These programs can be delivered in community-based settings, schools, and health care.
Youth-serving organizations should engage with youth to understand what barriers prevent them from accessing services. They should also recruit program staff from the communities they serve. This will ensure that they are sensitive to cultural, racial, and language differences. Moreover, they should train their staff to recognize personal biases and structural challenges. This will improve the effectiveness of their programs.
Adolescence is a time of growth
Adolescence is a time of rapid physical, cognitive and psychosocial growth. This makes it a key stage for developing healthy mental health. But adolescents face many risks that can interfere with their mental well-being, including exposure to violence and other stressors, pressure to conform to social norms and exploration of identity.
These challenges can lead to depression and other mental health conditions, which can impact a child’s ability to learn in school and make decisions in life. It’s important for adults to recognize signs of poor mental health in teens and take action to help them get help.
Youth-serving organizations should focus on identifying the unique barriers that prevent youth from accessing mental health services and address them. This could include recruiting staff from the communities they serve and providing training on cultural competency and other relevant issues. They can also provide information on coping mechanisms to help children and teens regulate powerful emotions like anger or fear.
Adolescence is a time of change
Youth are particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges. Many youth experiences mental health challenges during adolescence, which is a turbocharged neurological and emotional transition to adulthood. Many experience mood swings and behavioral changes that are temporary, but some are more persistent. During this time, youth often feel disconnected from their family and peers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new attention to the issue of youth mental health, but young people have been struggling with mental health issues for longer than 10 years. In fact, during the decade before the pandemic, feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness and suicidal behaviors in high school students increased by more than 40%.
The same preventive strategies that promote mental health – like helping youth feel connected to their school and family – can also help prevent a wide range of harmful behaviors, including drug use and violence, that are often associated with these disorders. The 2022-2023 NGA Chair’s Initiative on Strengthening Youth Mental Health is focused on advancing innovative treatment and prevention strategies to address these critical issues.
Adolescence is a time of development
In adolescence, mental disorders rarely appear in full bloom; they typically begin with nascent symptoms. These symptoms may look very similar to certain behaviors typical of adolescence and are differentiated by the degree to which they disrupt daily life and by their duration, severity, and frequency. It is important for parents and friends to notice these early symptoms and alert a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Poor mental health during adolescence can impact a teen’s academic performance, decision making, and their physical health. It can also affect future employment, healthy relationships, and parenting skills. Mental health concerns can be difficult to diagnose, and some adolescents don’t seek help.
Opportunities include continuing to reduce bias, discrimination and stigma, identifying policies that inadvertently target or harm students with mental health needs, conducting research to expand understanding of social media’s impacts on youth (e.g., social comparisons, hateful speech, graphic content) and empowering young people to take action and manage their digital experiences, and expanding training and supports for caregivers and educators.