Teen mental health concerns
Teen years can be difficult as young adults begin to discover who they are, what they like and don’t like and begin to branch out on their own. From navigating hormones to high school to relationships, the rapid changes teenagers experience can create or worsen mental health concerns.
In fact, the World Health Organization states that one in seven teenagers experiences a mental health disorder and that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for those ages 15 to 19.
Signs of a mental health concern in teens
Understanding the signs and symptoms of teen mental health concerns is vital, as nearly half of mental illnesses start by age 14.
While some adult and teen mental illness symptoms overlap, it’s vital to recognize those specific to teens as well as more general symptoms. Some of these include:
Extreme mood swings
Aggression or acting out
Poor personal hygiene
Change in eating patterns, excessive weight loss or weight gain
Lack of energy or motivation
Oversleeping or insomnia
Declining academics
Feelings of worthlessness
Sudden loss of interest in activities and hobbies
Chronically worried or anxious
Self-medicating
Actions of self-harm, including cutting, picking, burning, biting or hair-pulling
How you can help
Talk to your teen about mental health. Create an environment where your teen feels safe to talk to you about their mental health concerns. You can do this by asking about their mental health or discussing the topic in general. Remember to listen carefully and without judgment and respect their privacy if they don’t wish to share what they are going through (provided it is not life-threatening).
Provide a supportive and stable home life. Consider sticking to a regular daily schedule, be thoughtful when discussing stressful topics with them and minimize their exposure to violence.
Allow for mental health days. Sometimes, your teen may need a day to recharge. Allowing for mental health days permits your teen to admit when they are feeling burnt out and provides space to see to their needs when necessary.
Be a role model. You can show your teen how to care for their mental and physical health by looking after your own and demonstrating positive coping methods.
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