The recent surge in teen anxiety and depression has raised eyebrows. Is this just a normal part of adolescence, or have we reached a tipping point?
Psychologists are working to answer these questions. They’re developing and testing solutions that are sensitive to youth mental health needs. They’re improving data collection and collaborating with child-serving systems to prioritize services for at-risk youth.
Prevention
We need to make it easier for young people to recognize and manage their emotions. Ensure all children have access to high-quality mental health care, including support services in schools. Address the economic and social barriers that contribute to poor mental health for youth.
Psychologists are advancing prevention strategies to help youth thrive. For example, they are working to reduce stigma and negative stereotypes around mental illness by educating the public through trusted messengers like religious leaders and health care professionals. They are also promoting evidence-based practices in systems that serve youth (e.g., schools, family services, juvenile justice settings) and enhancing dissemination and implementation science to improve adoption of these practices.
In addition, we need to increase timely data collection and research to identify and respond to youth mental health trends more rapidly. This includes more research on the relationship between technology and youth mental health, and fostering public-private partnerships for innovative approaches.
Early Intervention
Identifying and responding to psychosocial difficulties at their initial stages is essential to reduce the risk of future mental disorders. Such interventions are best delivered through a wide range of services outside the healthcare sector, such as schools, businesses, community groups and government departments. A good example of this is Headspace, an Australian service that reaches over 100,000 young people per year. It offers support for adolescents with emerging mental health problems and provides a range of services including counselling, occupational and education therapy, housing, substance use and physical health services.
Early intervention models developed for psychotic disorders have expanded their clinical area of intervention to mood, personality and eating disorders. This reflects a recognition that many young people present with symptoms similar to those of a psychotic disorder but with attenuated or less severe features, and that this can be an important opportunity to intervene early and potentially modify possible psychopathological trajectories. This would require redesigning prevention and early intervention strategies in a youth-focused multidisciplinary framework.
Treatment
A variety of treatment strategies can improve mental health outcomes, including medication, psychoeducation, promoting healthy lifestyles, and improving access to care. It is important that mental health interventions are tailored to the unique needs of at-risk youth, such as those involved in child welfare systems and those who face discrimination and stigma.
Adolescents often feel a strong sense of stigma surrounding mental health, which can prevent them from seeking help. To address this, education campaigns are needed to dispel misconceptions and promote a culture where mental health is normalized.
In addition, efforts should be made to strengthen research and data integration across government agencies and health systems to enable rapid identification of trends in mental health. Finally, it is critical to continue reducing biases and stigma in all settings and to prioritize equity in prevention and intervention efforts.
Recovery
Youth who are coping with mental health challenges can benefit from having access to comprehensive and affordable health insurance coverage, and a supportive environment at home and school. In addition, family members can help support their loved ones by taking time to practice stress management techniques and by recognizing warning signs of mental illness and responding appropriately.
A key factor in recovery is a sense of personal motivation. Young people who are motivated are more likely to seek help and engage in treatment. They also have a greater capacity to recover from difficult situations.
Research on recovery has largely focused on adult populations, with the exception of some qualitative studies that directly explored the recovery narratives of youth. One study developed a thematic model of youth recovery processes displaying five subthemes (self-belief and resilience; responsibility and personal agency; identity, awareness and acceptance; connection; and hope and optimism). The model has implications for understanding and integrating the concept of recovery into youth mental health service delivery.