Teens can feel overwhelmed and desperate when a crisis hits. Whether it’s a mental health crisis, a threat to their physical safety or thoughts of suicide, they need to know how to ask for help.
Life events like the death of a loved one, bullying or strained relationships can all contribute to a teen’s crisis. But the underlying cause may be more complex, and include things such as:
Signs of a Mental Health Crisis
Children and teens in crisis need immediate care. This is especially true for those who have experienced a significant loss or life change. This could be the death of a loved one, the loss of their job or a family home.
Mood changes, social withdrawal and feelings of hopelessness or despair can lead to a mental health crisis. These signs can be very subtle. It’s important to know what to watch for so you can take action quickly if needed.
When someone is in a mental health crisis their emotions may become severe and they can be unable to think clearly. They can act irrationally, be violent or even run away. It’s very important to call 911 if your child is in a crisis so that officers can arrive with deescalation training. They’ll also need a treatment plan. This will most likely include medication, therapy and possibly learning coping skills. The symptoms of a mental health crisis are different for everyone.
Suicide Risk
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (SITB) are very common among youth. While death by suicide is a very serious risk, the majority of people who kill themselves in this age group don’t really want to die; they’re in severe pain and feel hopeless about their situation.
Youngsters who have a specific plan to kill themselves and the means to do it, like a gun, are considered high-risk and need immediate help. If your child is threatening suicide, don’t leave them alone, even for a moment. Call 988 and get them the help they need right away.
Many community-based and primary care-centered interventions have been shown to reduce suicidal behavior in youths. Some of these include dialectical behavioral therapy, psychoeducation for parents on the topic of suicide and lethal means restriction, such as removing guns from the home. Family problems and the death of a loved one can also increase suicide risk, as well as living conditions that include violence, abuse and neglect.
Signs of a Physical Health Crisis
Pediatricians have the unique ability to build trusting relationships with kids over many years of well-child checkups. Whether the problem is anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts, pediatricians can help de-stigmatize mental health care and refer them to the right services.
During this time of economic stress, youth can feel vulnerable and unable to cope. This can lead to risk-taking behaviours, which are harmful for both their physical and mental health. For example, insecure work and unemployment has been linked to an increase in psychosomatic symptoms (feeling low, headache and sleep difficulties) in adolescents (161).
Proximal factors include the family environment, education, healthy lifestyle, social media use, childhood trauma and bullying. Distal factors are the wider societal contexts that can be related to and mediated by these proximal factors, such as the economy, labour and housing market, socio-economic disadvantage and inequality, politics and climate change (17). The best way to address these factors is to support young people through holistic approaches like headspace, which provides integrated support for mental health conditions and other needs, using a transdiagnostic model (18). This approach is a step in the right direction but more needs to be done.
Signs of a Sexual Health Crisis
Adolescents who experience mental health problems are at greater risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and for unintended pregnancy. The same prevention strategies that support mental health, like feeling connected to school and family, can prevent many of these risks.
Children who display sexual behaviors or knowledge that is not typical for their age, exhibit a lack of interest in activities they used to enjoy, or have trouble sleeping may indicate exposure to sexual content. Those who report being victims of sexual assault and who exhibit depression, anxiety, or frequent nightmares are at particular risk.
In addition, adolescent girls are particularly at risk of STIs due to biological factors (such as immature cervixes) and cultural factors that reduce their ability to discuss their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) with their partners. They are also often at risk of harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation.