Psychologists are working to address mental health needs of youth. They’re creating programs that support young people in overcoming their challenges.
Help young people develop strong, safe relationships with supportive adults. Look out for warning signs of mental illness and connect them to treatment services if needed. Address harmful megatrends like wage theft, unregulated social media and job insecurity.
Anxiety and Depression
When a teenager feels low, it can be hard to tell the difference between her normal mood changes and depression or anxiety. These conditions may have a negative impact on her social life, academic performance and self-esteem. They can also lead to substance misuse and self-harm.
In addition to psychotherapy, it is helpful for teenagers to make lifestyle changes. This includes increasing physical activity, avoiding substances that can worsen the mood (including caffeine and sugar), eating well and getting enough sleep. Teenagers with anxiety can learn to recognise and change their negative thinking patterns.
Many new technologies for depression and anxiety are being developed, including the MoodHwb programme, which incorporates psychoeducation, CBT, behavioural activation and positive psychology approaches, and is interactive and personalised, and has been evaluated in Wales (Bevan Jones 2020b). The BRAVE Therapist-Assisted programme is a stepped care approach to depression that uses online multimedia psychoeducation, CBT, and relaxation techniques and has been evaluated in Australia (Tunney 2017). Other programmes include Rebound within MOST, which is based on peer-to-peer social networking, individually tailored interactive psychosocial interventions/modules, mental health and peer moderation, and has been evaluated in Australia (Rice 2018). These technologies require a subscription fee.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) include difficulty focusing, being overly active or fidgeting, and problems controlling behavior. This is the most common behavioral disorder in children, but symptoms can continue to impact people throughout their lives, especially when they are adolescents and adults.
It’s normal for teens to get distracted or restless, but if these behaviors interfere with school and work, create frustration, or cause poor relationships, a diagnosis of ADHD may be in order. While symptoms may be different in adults, they can still experience trouble concentrating, have a difficult time forming and maintaining relationships, and engage in impulsive, risky behaviors such as substance use or unsafe sexual activity.
A combination of strategies, including medication, therapy and educational accommodations, can help a person with ADHD thrive at school and in life. Therapists can teach coping skills, build self-esteem and address co-occurring mental health issues that often accompany ADHD. They can also provide support and guidance through the adolescent and adulthood transition.
Addictions
Young people with mental health disorders, especially those with neurodevelopmental disabilities like ADHD and mood (such as depression and bipolar) have increased odds of developing drug use disorder. Adolescents with substance use disorder are also at high risk for other negative outcomes, including involvement in the criminal justice system and other forms of social vulnerability like poverty, gang involvement and reliance on informal support networks such as prostitution.
Studies suggest that the most common self-reported problems among adolescents with drug use disorders include concentration difficulties, sleeping difficulties and anxiety or depression. Other symptoms or conditions reported less frequently but potentially indicating more severe or long-lasting problems include hallucinations, eating disorders and self-harming behaviour.
While there is a strong relationship between drug use and mental health problems, it is important to explore why and how these co-occur. For example, the motivation for drug use may be related to a desire for specific sensations or a response to trauma.
Trauma
It’s important to remember that trauma affects everyone differently. You can be caught up in the same scary event as someone else and have a very different reaction. This is because your own resilience and how well you’re supported after the trauma can influence how you feel.
Traumatic experiences can be anything from witnessing violence, war and terrorism to losing a loved one or having an accident that leaves you physically injured. It also doesn’t have to be physical harm; it can include seeing others in pain or feeling powerless to help them.
Adolescents experiencing traumatic experiences may develop unhealthy coping strategies like substance use, hypersexuality or promiscuity and delinquency. These behaviors often have lasting consequences. Most youth in our study reported having contact with adults about their mental health needs – mostly through schools – and most were first identified for mental health issues after a serious incident. For example, three adolescents were diagnosed after being arrested and placed on probation; and two had been hospitalized for suicide attempts.