Poor mental health in teens can affect their school performance and decision making. It can also lead to substance use, violence and risky sexual behaviors that can lead to unintended pregnancy.
Despite these challenges, most youth with mental health problems do well with treatment, family and peer support and access to services and programs.
Depression
Depression is a common mental health disorder that affects 20% of teens. It can make it difficult for them to stay engaged in school and other activities. It can also affect their overall performance and grades. Depression also increases the risk of substance abuse, teen pregnancy and violence.
Stressful life events, family conflicts, bullying, academic pressures and traumatic experiences can all contribute to depression in teens. Depression may also be caused by hormone changes during puberty or other genetic predispositions.
If your teen is suffering from depression, be sure to listen to them without judgment and encourage them to seek professional help. They may need to talk to a trusted friend, health care professional or faith leader. They may benefit from medication or therapy. In severe cases, they may need to go into a psychiatric hospital or attend a day program that offers group discussions and activities with other patients. They may also need to improve their sleep habits, get plenty of exercise and eat healthy, nutritious meals that are rich in mood-boosting nutrients.
Anxiety
Anxiety is the most common psychiatric illness in children and teens. While transient fears and worries are part of normal development, anxiety that is persistent, excessive, irrational or impairs functioning can be indicative of an anxiety disorder.
Youths who have an anxiety disorder may develop irrational fears about school, sports, family and friends or other concerns that can make them feel on edge. They may also avoid social or other situations that they perceive as a threat, such as having a panic attack or not performing well. They often use tactics such as negotiating, whining, arguing and crying to facilitate avoidance. This pattern of avoiding has been referred to as parental accommodation and can impede progress in treatment by robbing youths of opportunities to confront their fears and build healthy autonomy.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that can help reduce anxiety symptoms. Anti-anxiety medicines may be prescribed by mental health professionals if CBT isn’t successful.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme shifts in mood from emotional highs, called mania, to severe depression. It’s a long-lasting illness that requires ongoing treatment.
Kids and teens with bipolar disorder may experience mood episodes that last for days or weeks at a time, or even longer. During these episodes, they’re more active than usual and have unusually high energy levels. They might also be irritable and angry. They might not find pleasure in things they normally do or have thoughts about death or suicide.
A doctor can diagnose bipolar disorder by asking questions, doing a physical exam and doing blood tests. They’ll also ask about the person’s family medical history and any other past or present health conditions that might be related to the symptoms they have.
Medication is often used to treat bipolar disorder, including mood stabilizers and antidepressants. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can help a person with bipolar disorder and their family cope with their symptoms and manage their illness.
Suicide
A teen’s life can be filled with stressors, including family problems, school difficulties and substance abuse. Some of these may lead to thoughts of suicide. When a young person is thinking about killing themselves, they need immediate care.
Fortunately, there are many things that can protect kids from suicide. For example, good problem-solving skills (like figuring out how to get help when things are tough) and strong connections with friends and family members can reduce risk. Restricting access to lethal means (like weapons or medicine) can also be helpful.
Parents should watch for warning signs like a change in sleep or eating habits, becoming more withdrawn and withdrawing from activities that used to be fun. If a teen is thinking about suicide, they need to be taken to a hospital immediately. A doctor will check them for life-threatening health issues and then treat the mental illness. Often, a teen will stay in a hospital until they are stable.