If your teenager is in crisis, it is important to take action immediately. A professional intervention specialist can help you identify the factors that are contributing to their situation and develop a plan for responding to it.
Some of the factors that can lead to a teen crisis include self-harm, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts. Other factors include a lack of healthy parental guidance and monitoring, disorganized schools, and social isolation.
Disenchanted youth
The millennial generation has been the driving force behind recent protest movements, but these actions have left them disenchanted. This sentiment is evident in their low voter turnout and the high support for far right Eurosceptic political parties.
This disenchantment is also reflected in the relationship between Giselle and her daughter, Morgan, who chafes at the restrictions of modern family life. Disenchanted challenges fairy tale tropes by showing the depth of love between a mother and her stepdaughter, even when that relationship is strained by new expectations.
Youth work must find ways to respond to this disenchantment. It must offer young people diverse forms of participation, and help them develop the skills needed to participate effectively in society. This includes formal education, non-formal education and informal learning.
Disrupted families
The growing proportion of children raised in disrupted families has been a cause for concern. Research has shown that, on average, kids whose parents divorce or die perform worse academically than those living in stable two-biological-parent families. Moreover, they have less economic security and are at greater risk of developing psychopathology. This increased risk probably stems from both environmental and genetic factors.
A recent study of delinquency rates found that boys who lived in permanently disrupted families were more likely to commit crimes than those living in high-conflict intact families. This finding supports an upbringing theory of criminality, which proposes that a person’s upbringing contributes to his or her propensity to crime. While most kids show some short-term disturbances after their parents’ separation, a significant minority of them suffer more lasting impairments such as high-school dropout or college non-completion, chronic joblessness, premature sexual involvement and parenthood, and juvenile delinquency or adult criminality.
Unresolved issues
Unresolved issues from the past can manifest as an emotional crisis in teenagers. These include issues like childhood sexual abuse, substance use, and family conflict. These problems can also interfere with a teenager’s ability to perform at school. They may even impact their relationships with parents and friends.
New York State is addressing this crisis through a series of listening sessions and a spring summit. Governor Hochul has emphasized that supporting young people’s mental health is a critical priority.
She is urging local communities to invest in child and youth behavioral health crisis response services. This includes providing access to telehealth services for adolescents who are experiencing a crisis. Oftentimes, these services can prevent adolescents from returning to the hospital after they have attempted suicide.
Social isolation
Children and youth need acceptance from their peers and social interactions to feel secure. Without these, they may experience emotional distress. They might also not be able to participate in activities like team sports, proms and graduations, which help define their sense of self.
Loneliness and social isolation are different, but both have negative effects on the well-being of individuals. One study showed that people who are lonely are twice as likely to be depressed compared to those who are not.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated a mental health crisis that already existed in young people’s lives. The good news is that with the right support, youth can overcome these challenges and thrive in life. Charlie Health is here to help. We provide high-quality, comprehensive treatment solutions in a safe and supportive environment.
Mental health issues
Teens who don’t have a healthy connection to school and family are at greater risk for mental health issues. These go hand-in-hand with a host of behavioral risks, like drug use, violence, and higher-risk sexual behaviors that can lead to HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy.
The extreme disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated problems that were already growing among youth, resulting in what U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called a “devastating mental health crisis” in 2021. Feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness have increased dramatically, while suicidal thoughts and behavior also have been on the rise.
Many mental health conditions can be treated with psychological approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or exposure therapy. These treatments are provided by psychologists, psychotherapists and some primary care physicians.