Understanding Teen Mental Health Challenges
Like all of us, teenagers encounter emotional distress as a part of normal development and achieving maturity. Short-term anxiety about upcoming challenges and short periods of situational depression are healthy and normal reactions in young people. However, mental illness in teens is much more common than many parents realize.
Studies of teens and mental illness show that one in every five young people may be affected. Mental health is as important as physical health in helping young people achieve their life goals and avoid the risks associated with depression and substance abuse.
Youth mental health involves developing emotional, psychological, and social well-being in these key areas:
- Adapting to change
- Developing fulfilling relationships with others
- Using appropriate coping mechanisms
- Learning skills that help to navigate different environments and future challenges
How Do Mental Health Disorders Affect Teens?
Teenagers who are growing up with mental illness may experience negative impacts across a broad range of social and emotional areas, in school, at home, and as part of the community. In contrast to those who grow up mentally healthy, these young people face additional challenges like these:
- Strain on family and sibling relationships, where the young person with mental health challenges may be blamed or singled out due to disruptive behaviors. Parents and caregivers often struggle to understand what is happening to a child they care for, and may not know how to provide the help their teenager needs.
- Difficulty succeeding in school, where the teenager is hampered by their mental disorder and struggles to control their behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. They may experience disciplinary actions and are more likely to fail on tests or drop out of school. Their school system may not have the resources to support student mental health, and without a diagnosis of a disorder, they are not required to provide accommodations.
- Mental health issues in teens result in an increased tendency to engage in high-risk behaviors, self-harm, or substance use as a result of their mental health challenges. These actions can put their physical health in danger, and result in further social stigma, blaming, legal issues, and feelings of guilt or persecution.
The Difference Between Behavioral Health and Mental Health
Sometimes the terms mental health and behavioral health are used interchangeably, but there is actually a difference between the two. Teenage behavioral health refers to how the individual’s life habits impact both their physical and mental health. Mental health is one part of behavioral health.
Mental health is defined by the World Health Organization as: “A state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”
Mental health includes factors such as genetic and situational drivers. Teen behavioral health focuses on how the resulting life habits affect a teenager’s overall well-being.
Get Help NowMental Health in Teens: Facts and Statistics
Mental health and behavioral challenges are more common than most parents realize. Teen mental health statistics show that as many as 1 in 3 high school students shows signs or symptoms of depression. According to recent mental health in teens statistics and surveys, these issues are a global problem.
- Depression is a leading cause of disability and illness in adolescents
- Half of all mental health conditions present by 14 years of age, but most go undetected and untreated
- In the US, 1 in 6 teenagers reported making a suicide plan in a 2019 survey
- Suicide is the 4th most likely cause of death in 15- to 19-year-olds globally
- In many cases, teenagers ranging from 12 to 18 will turn to drugs and substance abuse as a way of coping
These are the most important formative years for all of us, where we learn healthy coping mechanisms and develop independence. Mental health issues in teens who go without treatment may cause life-long disabilities and higher risks of injury or death. These same trends are apparent in emotional behavioral disorder statistics as well.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/mental-health/index.htm
Subtle Signs a Teen Might Have a Mental Health Condition
Some of the early signs of common mental health problems in adolescence are subtle and difficult to spot amidst the expected ups and downs of being a teenager. Some of the signs of mental health issues in young adults are probably present in most teenagers.
The media is currently focusing on terms like adolescence syndrome, which points out high levels of anxiety which are natural to teenagers as a treatable condition. Most experts in teenage emotional issues would disagree that these tendencies are red flags in teenage behavior or that they necessarily require treatment.
As a parent, use this list of early signs to improve your understanding of children’s mental health and decide when it might be time to look deeper into potential issues:This is some text inside of a div block.
- Daily interactions and relationships seem disrupted. If it seems that your teen is having trouble maintaining a routine or completing normal daily tasks, this may be a kid’s warning sign that something has changed or is interfering with progress.
- Noticeable changes in personality. When a confident child becomes shy, an outgoing teen becomes withdrawn, or even a quiet teen becomes animated and perhaps manic, parents might ask themselves “is my son crazy” or “what happened to my daughter,” but it could be a perfectly normal stage of development. Talking to a therapist or psychologist could put your mind at ease.
- Rising levels of anxiety. Young people do have worries in today’s society, and you should expect to see some worry about situations like taking a test or competing in sports. If your teen seems worried to the point that they have difficulty functioning, parents should look deeper into what is causing excessive anxiety.
- Declining performance at school. This is actually one of the most common reasons parents might think their teenagers are going crazy, but there are many reasons that grades can fall. Sometimes the subject matter is too advanced, but it is also common for a teen struggling with a mental health issue to lose interest or motivation to engage in schoolwork.
- Difficulty adjusting to change. Young people experience life changes just as we all do, and may be faced with grief, loss, and disappointments. Even car accidents or other physical traumas can take time and sometimes professional help to overcome. These adjustments take time, but if you feel your teen is not dealing with the experience, or you think they need additional help, this is a reason to seek professional guidance.
While none of these subtle clues necessarily means that your teenager is struggling with a mental health condition, they are warning signs that should be taken seriously, and a good reason to openly communicate with your child about what might be causing the behaviors you notice. School programs in teen mental health awareness can help your child recognize that they may be on the road to more serious issues if these early signs are not addressed.
Symptoms of Mental Illness in Young Adults
If you are seeing subtle (or not so subtle) warning signs of emotional problems in adolescence, the counselor or doctor you consult with will want to know if you are seeing actual symptoms of a mental health condition. Teenage mental illness symptoms are the same as those used to diagnose adults. Very often a combination of several symptoms are required to reach a diagnosis.
Some of the specific symptoms of mental health conditions in teenagers include:
- Symptoms of generalized anxiety, which include muscle tension, fatigue, irritability, and sleep disorders.
- Symptoms of social anxiety disorder, such as feeling anxious around others, struggling to talk to people in person or on the phone, fear of negative responses from others, nausea, flushing, sweating, and trembling in social situations.
- Symptoms of a major depressive disorder, often including lack of interest in activities once enjoyed, feelings of guilt, changes in appetite, excessive sleep, low energy, and thoughts of suicide.
- Engaging in self-harm, which might include cutting themselves, burning themselves, or other behaviors which are self-destructive or painful.
- Using drugs or alcohol as self-medication or to escape the symptoms of a possible mental health disorder.
- Expressing fears that their mind is being controlled or that they hear voices which are not there.
- Violent or aggressive outbursts, obsessions, blackouts, or phobias.
- Symptoms of PTSD or panic attacks, like flashbacks, hyperventilation, rapid heart rate, dizziness, or numbness.
Get Help NowCauses of Teen Mental Health Issues
Causes of mental health issues among teenagers can include genetic factors and environmental factors. We know how common mental illness is among teenagers, but researchers are still identifying what causes mental illness in adolescence.
These stressors go beyond teenage insecurity problems. In most cases the cause will be some combination of these factors:
- Overwhelming physical, emotional, or social changes
- Exposure to abuse or absence of family care, being orphaned, or otherwise separated from family supports
- Poverty and/or lack of access to mental health services
- Media influence and cultural, societal, or gender expectations which create disparate realities
- Being the victim of bullying, violence, or sexual assault
- Having an intellectual challenge, chronic illness, autism spectrum disorder, or neurological condition
- Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or the death of a friend or family member
- Being a member of a group which regularly faces stigma or social exclusion
The Most Common Types of Mental Disorders in Teens
Once you are working with an expert in common teenage mental health issues, your teen may be diagnosed with one of the recognized mental health issues in adolescence. Having a diagnosis or combination of common teenage psychiatric disorders will allow the creation of a comprehensive treatment plan which will help your teen overcome these challenges.
Some of the most common mental health issues in our youth are:
- Generalized or social anxiety disorders
- Chronic depression
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Self-mutilation or self-harm
- Obsessive body image concerns
- Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia
- Substance use disorders
The most common psychological disorder in adolescence is depression, but all of these psychological disorders in teens can be debilitating and impair a young person’s path to personal development and achievement. While this teenage disorders list includes only the most common conditions, these are the disorders that you are most likely to find affecting your young person.
Gender Differences in Teenage Psychiatric Disorders
There are notable gender differences in the risk of developing mental health issues in adolescence. In general, research shows that girls are more likely to develop common teenage mental health issues than boys. This gender gap is evident across different cultures and even globally, females are consistently more likely to experience mental disorders as teens and adults.
Young people who are in the gender minority, transgender, lesbian, gay, or bisexual are also more likely to face common mental health issues in their youth. Fully half of students who identify as part of these groups report having suicidal thoughts, while one-third of students who were unsure about their sexual identity also reported considering suicide.
Gender and sexual identity are clearly a risk factor for psychological disorders in teens. Fostering open communication and acceptance of these challenges will help you see signs of any problems developing and seek help for your teenager when needed.
Tips and Community Support for Teens Dealing with Mental Health Issues
Parents, friends, and community teen support groups can make a real difference in preventing and dealing with the stresses and traumatic events that young people may face. As a parent, you can provide emotional help for teenagers in need, and help identify more serious issues before they become even more severe.
These tips to support teen mental health will provide a solid foundation for families and communities:
- Demonstrate open, honest, and supportive communication on a consistent basis. Let teenagers know that you will honestly discuss any topics of concern, and actively bring up uncomfortable topics and your own experiences, fears, and techniques for dealing with anxiety or depression.
- Make clear that while your teenager's experience and situation is unique, that they are not alone in experiencing stress, anxiety, trauma, or uncertainty.
- Embrace and share the idea that mental health conditions are common and treatable, letting go of any stigma that might be attached to seeking treatment for mental health challenges.
- Be attentive to your teenager’s behavior and that of their friends. Encourage participation in supervised and supportive activities at teen centers or youth support groups.
- Be a guide and ally, not a judge. If you strive to create a relationship where your child can communicate their life experiences without fear of retaliation, they are far more likely to share their most private concerns about their mental health or substance use.
- Seek professional help when you are concerned about a young person’s mental health. Even if they determine that all is well, they will provide excellent resources and useful information about how to help your teenager overcome current challenges or cope with change.
Teen Mental Health Resources: Worksheets and Tests
There are many quizzes, tests, or child and adolescent mental health articles available which might help you get started. Starting a conversation with teens about mental health can be daunting, so this list of questions to get young people talking can be a helpful worksheet for parents looking to provide emotional help for teenagers:
- Demonstrate open, honest, and supportive communication on a consistent basis. Let teenagers know that you will honestly discuss any topics of concern, and actively bring up uncomfortable topics and your own experiences, fears, and techniques for dealing with anxiety or depression.
- Make clear that while your teenager's experience and situation is unique, that they are not alone in experiencing stress, anxiety, trauma, or uncertainty.
- Embrace and share the idea that mental health conditions are common and treatable, letting go of any stigma that might be attached to seeking treatment for mental health challenges.
- Be attentive to your teenager’s behavior and that of their friends. Encourage participation in supervised and supportive activities at teen centers or youth support groups.
- Be a guide and ally, not a judge. If you strive to create a relationship where your child can communicate their life experiences without fear of retaliation, they are far more likely to share their most private concerns about their mental health or substance use.
- Seek professional help when you are concerned about a young person’s mental health. Even if they determine that all is well, they will provide excellent resources and useful information about how to help your teenager overcome current challenges or cope with change.
Mental Health Self-Evaluation Quiz for Teens
Another powerful mental health activity for teens is to take a more formal evaluation like the one below. This quiz is not intended to diagnose a mental health condition, but it can be a good start for self-assessment or to generate a baseline in a teen support group.
Each question should be answered with a 0 for never, a 1 for sometimes, and a 2 for often.
- I feel easily distracted and have trouble concentrating on activities
- I often fail to finish things I started
- I have trouble following directions or instructions
- I often act impulsively, without stopping to think about consequences
- I jump from one activity to another
- I fidget and feel restless sitting still
- I feel defiant and talk back to adults or people in authority
- I blame others for my mistakes or problems
- I get easily annoyed by other people
- I argue with my peers and friends
- I feel angry and resentful
- I have stolen things from home or work
- I have destroyed things that don’t belong to me
- I have damaged property at school or in the community
- I have broken into a house, car, or locked building
- I have gotten into physical fights
- I use weapons when fighting
- I worry that bad things are going to happen to people I care about
- I worry about being separated from family or friends
- I am afraid to sleep without my parents or others nearby
- I feel anxious and upset when I am by myself
- I feel physically sick when separated from those close to me
- I worry that I am not good enough at things
- I worry about things I did in the past
- I worry that I might do the wrong thing unintentionally
- I worry about what the future will bring
- I am afraid of making mistakes
- I feel anxious to please other people
- I have lost interest in my usual activities
- I feel no joy in things that used to seem fun to me
- I am not enjoying myself
- I don’t feel as happy as other people my age
- I feel hopeless, sad, or depressed
Scores above 25 overall or above 5 in any section may indicate the need for professional help.
How to Treat Teen Substance Abuse
When you are seeking mental health help for your teenager, substance abuse is often a contributing factor. As the teen mental health statistics tell us, seeking treatment for addiction is often necessary as part of youth mental wellness.
Teen mental health conditions are often treated with counseling and medications. When they occur together with substance use disorders or addiction, these co-occurring conditions are best treated simultaneously. A comprehensive treatment and recovery program will include mental health services for teens, to help them achieve healing and help prevent relapse.
Comprehensive & Individualized
Comprehensive and individualized programs like Teensavers focus on teen mental wellness and evidence-based treatment for substance abuse. These services can be either residential (inpatient) or day programs (outpatient).
Useful for treatment of moderate to the highest levels of mental disorders, an IOP (intensive outpatient) therapy program provides more than teen counseling. It provides a structured environment and innovative forms of therapy proven to work with teens. This partial hospitalization program is proven to be very effective in the treatment of these disorders in young people.
The peer therapy group allows the children to understand what their age-mates are going through as they support each other and get better prepared for the outside world. It may place them in a therapy group with their peers; a group small enough to be efficient yet allow each teen’s individual needs to be met. Peer therapy is done with the guidance of a Mental Health Professional.
Other treatment forms may include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A talking therapy where a professional helps an individual sort through their thoughts, manage their negative thought patterns, change the way they behave and think, and improve the way they feel.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): This is also a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy where a professional teaches an individual a healthy way to cope without turning to substance abuse. These teenagers and adolescents will also learn to live happily in the moment, deal with stress in their environment, improve their relationship with other people as well as regulate their emotions efficiently.
- Family Therapy Participation: It is important for a child with a mental health disorder to understand and feel loved, especially by their families. This is why they are encouraged to participate in family therapy. This mental health treatment approach not only helps the adolescent child, but it also helps the family understand how they can better support the adolescent in the long term.
- Art Therapy: An approach where the individual is encouraged to be expressive through a preferred art medium. They are guided to paint, draw, or play musical instruments. This can open them to being deeply expressive as an alternative and healthy solution to find release of their buried emotions.
It is very important for the family of the teenager to choose an appropriate treatment center or facility. Teensavers is able to properly assess a young person’s mental health conditions and assign qualified professionals to focus on a young person’s individual needs.
Teensavers Substance Abuse Programs
Teensavers programs support healing for all mental health disorders including substance use disorder. We offer both inpatient programs and intensive outpatient treatment to meet the unique needs of each young person. Treatment will begin with a full evaluation and assessment to determine the best path for your child.
For cases of severe addictions and expected withdrawal, residential detox is available. In this phase of treatment, teenagers have medical supervision as needed, and may be prescribed medications to ease symptoms. Once detoxification is complete, the adolescent can move on to partial hospitalization or outpatient services.
A very effective treatment for teens with mental health disorders is an adolescent intensive outpatient program (IOP). An IOP is particularly effective because it doesn’t disrupt the child’s social or academic life. This allows them to heal while still attending school, meet with friends, and function at home.
If your teenager is facing mental health issues, behavioral disorders, or substance abuse, we provide empowering and life-changing programs that can support mental and physical healing and a return to wellness. Contact us today to find out more about Teensavers’ innovative treatment programs that can help your young person achieve their goals and strengthen their life skills.
