Historically, the gravest health threats to young people have been alcohol misuse, drug abuse and teenage pregnancy. But a recent report by the CDC points to an emerging youth mental health crisis.
A growing number of teenagers are reporting persistently sad or hopeless feelings, while many feel at risk for suicide. This is a major problem that must be addressed.
Anxiety
While some anxiety and worry is a normal part of growing up, it becomes a health issue when fears and worries persist for weeks or months and interfere with life functioning. Typical symptoms include restless feelings, being easily fatigued, on edge, difficulty concentrating and a tendency to ruminate (over-think). Some common somatic symptoms are headaches, stomachaches and muscle tension. Often, children and teens with anxiety will attempt to avoid situations that make them feel anxious by behaving in ways that seem disproportionate to the situation, such as clinging, negotiating, crying or freezing. This type of coping behaviour is called catastrophic reaction.
You can help your child manage their anxiety by talking to a professional counsellor or psychologist. You could try cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or a online therapy platform like BetterHelp, which can match you with a qualified therapist in as little as 48 hours. Medication may be a helpful treatment option for some teenagers with severe anxiety.
Depression
Depression is common in adolescents and can be difficult to recognise. It can be missed if symptoms are misinterpreted as normal teen behaviour, such as a decline in school performance, refusal to go to school, eating disorders, anxiety, or substance misuse. Depression increases suicide risk and is associated with sub stantial present and future morbidity, particularly among youth of lower socioeconomic status.
Symptoms of depression can include persistent sadness and loss of interest, feelings of hopelessness, or suicidal thoughts. It can be triggered by a number of events, including trauma or abuse, bullying, family break up, or major life changes. Depression may also be a result of genetics or an inherited predisposition to mental health problems.
Depression can lead to a range of issues including poor school performance, social exclusion, substance misuse and poor physical health. To tackle this, schools can provide a continuum of supports to meet students’ mental and physical needs, including access to trained mental health professionals.
Behavioural Problems
Adolescents may experience a range of emotional and behavioural problems. These can cause distress, interfere with daily life and impact their mental health. They can also affect family members, friends and wider community members. Mood changes and challenging behaviours are normal parts of growing up but if they last more than a few days, it is important to seek help.
Behaviour problems can be a sign of an underlying medical problem or psychological and social stressors. They can be the result of trauma or neglect and may also be a response to bullying, discrimination and exclusion.
Several risk factors can influence the mental wellbeing of adolescents including poverty, poor school environments, peer pressure, media influence and gender norms. It is essential to address these issues as they can have significant long term effects on a young person’s mental health, social connections and self-esteem. A number of interventions have been developed to tackle this issue, such as reducing access to addictive social media apps and developing programmes like NYC Teenspace that provides free online tele-mental health support for New York City teenagers.
Suicide
Suicide is a major problem for adolescents and can affect their mental health. It is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-14 and a top three concern among young people 15-24 years. It is also very disruptive to a societal scale because many more attempts are made for every completed teen suicide.
Adolescents are at risk for suicide due to a combination of factors, such as family dynamics, mood lability, mental disorders (especially depression), genetic loading and access to lethal means. In addition, a lack of effective family communication and/or conflict and violence within the family are often present in cases of teen suicide.
Parents should take warning signs of suicide seriously and seek expert help for their child, or encourage them to call a national suicide hotline if they feel alone or hopeless. They should try to reduce their teen’s access to weapons and other methods of self-harm and ensure that they get the help and treatment they need.