For some youth it is not a matter of ‘if’ but rather ‘when’ they will experience a mental health crisis. In these times, some advance planning can make a big difference.
Children and teens are facing imbalanced challenges – academic disruption, loss of caregivers to Covid-19, natural disasters, social media addiction, physical or emotional abuse at home.
What Causes a Crisis?
While some have pinned rising mental health concerns to the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say there is a constellation of factors at play.
Academic pressure, social media and cyberbullying, feelings of isolation and depression, and a fear of missing out (FOMO) have all contributed to a soaring level of distress, particularly for girls and LGBTQIA+ youth, whose challenges are often exacerbated by the impact of systemic racism and discrimination.
The prevalence of mental health challenges also varies among subpopulations, with socioeconomically disadvantaged youth being two to three times more likely to develop such conditions. Other risk factors include childhood trauma, substance use, and a lack of cultural and community support for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth. Researchers like Schleider, who leads the Lab for Scalable Mental Health, are developing digital self-guided interventions that are designed to exert measurable change within a single session. He says the biggest problem is that treatment isn’t readily available. Many kids and teens wait for inpatient psychiatric care, or end up in the emergency department due to unmet needs.
How Can I Help?
Many of the behaviors that manifest as crises in teenagers are rooted in underlying mental health conditions. Addressing these conditions, including depression and anxiety, can help prevent the need for a crisis in the future.
In addition, encouraging youth and their families to develop healthy coping skills can also support their safety and well-being. This includes promoting positive relationships, managing emotions, healthy use of social media and technology, and taking care of one’s body.
Additionally, empowering teenagers to be active in their communities can reduce stress and loneliness, which are commonly reported in crisis situations. Finally, fostering resilience and self-sufficiency by teaching them problem-solving strategies, such as identifying a situation, brainstorming possible solutions, evaluating those options, and choosing the most suitable one, can empower teens to take control of their own lives.
What Should I Do?
Every teenager’s crisis is unique and requires individualized care. However, it is important to remember that a crisis can be a sign of an underlying mental health issue. Often, these issues can be treated through a comprehensive treatment program.
Encourage teenagers to talk about their feelings and experiences openly. Listen nonjudgmentally and empathize with their concerns. Limit exposure to media coverage of violence and other distressing events.
If a teenager is exhibiting harmful behaviors, a mental health urgent care center may be the best option. These programs can provide 24/7 observation and crisis intervention, as well as stabilization, assessment, and treatment.
Other options include day treatment, which offers increased therapy sessions for teenagers who are struggling with more severe mental health issues. These programs offer a safe, structured environment where they can receive comprehensive care each day before returning home for the evening.
What Can I Expect?
Many children/youth experience mental health crises due to a variety of factors. This can include a breakup, death of a loved one or hero, natural disaster, sexual/physical abuse, homelessness, failing grades in school, substance use and much more.
In order to provide the best care for youth in crisis, they need to feel safe and heard. This requires a compassionate response from a trained team. A trained team can help the teen determine the cause of their crisis, build trust, and establish a plan for treatment/stabilization.
In addition, a trained team can provide family therapy to address communication struggles within the family, unhealthy coping skills and encourage safety and function in the household. This will set the teen up for long term recovery and success. Also, a trained team can assist the teen in seeking and obtaining necessary community resources for further treatment. Lastly, the trained team can ensure the teen is safe by assessing for admission to a dedicated observation unit if needed.