The mental health of teens and youth has been steadily getting worse for more than a decade. COVID-19 and trends like increasing social media use are exacerbating these worrying trends.
To address these needs, states are developing crisis receiving and stabilization facilities to support youth in their communities. These settings are less intensive than 23-hour observation units and more comprehensive than the living room model.
1. Anxiety
While some anxiety is normal, it’s important to recognize when your child’s feelings of worry and fear are out of control. Excessive, irrational fears or worries can make your teenager act nervous, shy, and isolated. It can also lead to physical symptoms such as headaches and digestive problems.
Anxiety disorders can affect any teen, but some groups of youth are more at risk than others. Sexual- and gender-minority youth are twice as likely to report feeling anxious, according to the 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health.
Anxiety treatment typically involves a combination of talk therapy and medication. For instance, psychologists use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help teens identify negative thoughts that contribute to anxiety and teach them coping strategies. They might also try exposure therapy, which helps people face situations or events that cause them to feel worried. They may need to take time off work or school to attend treatments, which can be done in-person or online.
2. Depression
Depression can impact every aspect of a youth’s life including their school, work and family. Untreated, it can lead to substance use, homelessness, and even suicide. Depression can also be triggered by events or situations such as breakups, the death of a loved one, natural disasters or other large scale traumas, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, failing grades in school, and witnessing violence.
Adolescent brains are developing at the fastest rate, which makes them more susceptible to feelings of sadness and despair. Depression can lead to negative thinking patterns and an inability to see the positive aspects of life.
Many youth do not receive treatment for their mental health needs. This is due to stigma, lack of awareness about where to seek help, insurance issues and other barriers. Screening data reveals that BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth face unique challenges tied to their identities and experiences. They often feel misunderstood or isolated in their families, schools and communities.
3. Suicide
Suicide is a major problem for youth. It is a tragic way to end one’s life and can have lasting effects on family, friends and entire communities.
Children and teens who are at risk of suicide may show warning signs. They may talk about a plan or method of suicide, seem down, angry and depressed or withdraw from others. They may use more alcohol or drugs or act impulsively. They can also lose interest in activities they usually enjoy and make poor decisions.
Teens can be especially vulnerable to suicide after experiencing loss or trauma—such as a breakup, a death in the family, bullying, or sexual or physical abuse—or suffering from a mental health disorder like anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder. They can also be at higher risk of suicide because they are members of historically disadvantaged communities that experience discrimination and limited access to care and support services.
4. Trauma
Trauma can have a profound impact on people’s ability to function. It can be a single distressing event such as a car accident or being a victim of violence, or it can be chronic experiences that cause a sense of helplessness like living through constant threats or natural disasters.
Traumatic events trigger the amygdala in our brains to send an alarm signal, resulting in the release of adrenaline and other chemicals to prepare for fight-or-flight. These negative feelings often dissipate, but sometimes they linger and interfere with daily life. Trauma-related symptoms can include reliving the distressing experience (also known as flashbacks), avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the event and having trouble feeling positive emotions.
Youth who are homeless often have a distinct culture with its own values, dress and slang that must be taken into consideration when offering trauma-informed treatment. This can be challenging, but a trauma-informed approach is essential to promoting positive mental health in this population.