Poor mental health in adolescence is more than just feeling blue. It can lead to serious problems, especially for female students and those who are LGBTQ+ or marginalized in some way.
Keep a close eye on changes in your child’s behavior, and share information about the crisis with them in ways that are developmentally appropriate. Limiting media exposure can help, too.
1. Suicide
A teen who threatens suicide is in immediate danger and needs to be taken seriously. They should get a physical checkup first to rule out any life-threatening health issues and then a mental health evaluation. They may need to stay at a hospital until they are stable.
One of the biggest causes of suicide is mental illness. Other factors include socioeconomic stressors, exposure to violence or other traumatic experiences and adverse childhood events, as well as social media use and bullying.
Research is ongoing into ways to help teens who are suicidal. For example, some studies have found that helping teens imagine the future in a more detailed and textured way can increase their hopefulness and resilience. Another possibility is using community-based interventions that involve screening for suicide risk in primary care settings and promoting access to mental health resources.
2. Drugs
Adolescents who use drugs experience negative outcomes for themselves and their families. These include poor academic performance, health-related issues and involvement with the juvenile justice system. Substance abuse can also lead to financial hardship for the family.
Even though the number of drug fatalities among adolescents increased during recent years, the trend may be slowing. However, teenagers must be cautious about drug use as even sniffing glue can cause serious harm.
Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis continue to be significant contributors to drug-related deaths among youth. Therefore, home and school-based substance-use prevention programming should focus on these substances. Programs should also include education on fentanyl, counterfeit pills, and naloxone. It is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms that a teenager may be in crisis, including mood changes, drugs going missing from their homes, changes in peer groups and carelessness with grooming.
3. Abuse
Abuse is a global crisis involving physical, emotional and sexual violence against children and adolescents. It includes non-consensual sexual contact, voyeurism, and online exploitation. It also includes corporal and physical punishment by parents or in schools, as well as domestic abuse and gang violence.
Abused youth are more likely to have negative coping and health risk behaviours, which can lead to substance abuse, depression, suicide, unintended pregnancy and gynaecological issues such as STIs and HIV. They are also more likely to become involved in the criminal justice system and have decreased economic productivity.
EM providers can help address these issues by working with community organizations, school districts, local governmental agencies and parent groups to promote prevention strategies. They can also connect at-risk youth with community resources and support for their mental health needs.
4. Mental Health Issues
Having poor mental health can lead to a variety of negative behaviors. It can strain family and community relationships, contribute to the risk of drug use, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancy, and can make a person more susceptible to stressors that affect their physical health.
Pre-Covid-19 pandemic trends indicate a significant rise in feelings of anxiety, psychological distress, self-harm and suicidal behavior and thoughts in youth, resulting in a global youth mental health crisis. The need for dynamic research and prevention – a ‘whole of society’ approach – is critical.
Often, the same prevention strategies that support mental health can help prevent a range of other negative experiences in young people like drug abuse and violence. Supporting families with wraparound services that include Certified Peer Support helps them stay connected to their children and community resources.
5. Homelessness
Homelessness can devastate a young person’s life. It leaves them without a stable base, making it difficult to build healthy relationships and develop vital job skills. Moreover, it erodes their sense of self and increases their risk for addiction and serious mental health problems. It also limits their educational opportunities. Those who are homeless are significantly less likely to attend a four-year college than their peers with stable housing, according to a report by Chapin Hall.
Often, these kids are invisible to society. They aren’t those sleeping on park benches or under bus stop shelters, but rather, they couch surf, bounce from one temporary arrangement to the next, or live in cars, public spaces, abandoned buildings, and even motels and hotels. And the longer they are homeless, the harder it is to escape from that cycle.