Youth mental health is a complex issue that requires everyone — from families to communities and government agencies — to come together. Many of the stressors that lead to poor mental health during adolescence are social conditions, like discrimination and poverty.
The teen years can be tough for anyone. But for some, the path to good mental health is especially rocky.
Risk factors
Substantial research demonstrates that multiple risk factors portend maladjustment during childhood and adolescence. The identification of distinct constellations of risk factors enables the development of more effective prevention strategies. This study improves upon previous work by including key constructs known to be robust risk factors in adolescent psychopathology; by using data from a longitudinal German sample; and by applying latent class analysis (LCA).
The analysis used Mplus 7.1 to process 27 binary risk indicators into meaningful groups reflecting dominant profiles in the sample. This resulted in four risk classes; class 1 (“basic-risk”), high-risk (23.4%), parental-risk (13.8%) and social-risk (12.4%). Members of the basic-risk class are more likely to report risk factors from the family domain, for example child maltreatment, insufficient parenting (high pressure, less warmth) and low family well-being. They also tend to endorse protective factors, such as high self-efficacy and good well-being with peers and within school. Members of the high-risk and parental-risk classes, on the other hand, report more risk factors from the social domain and predominately report low family well-being and poor interpersonal functioning.
Symptoms
Adolescence is a time of change, but drastic and uncharacteristic shifts in behavior are red flags for mental health disorders. Whether you’re a teen who has concerns, a parent of teens, or an obstetrician-gynecologist treating adolescents, the signs and symptoms that are most common in this age group include anxiety, mood, and attention disorders. Eating disorders, especially those involving self-harm, are also of concern.
Many youth with mental health disorders have difficulty succeeding at school because of negative behaviors and emotions related to their disorder. These difficulties can lead to disciplinary problems and, in some cases, expulsion or suspension. In addition, these behaviors may make them more likely to use drugs and alcohol, which can exacerbate their condition. They may have hallucinations, like hearing ringing or seeing lights, and delusions, including feeling indestructible or beyond human. They may also be suicidal, which is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate care. This is especially true if they’ve tried to kill themselves.
Treatment
Youth mental health issues like depression, anxiety and behavioral problems are the leading cause of illness and death in 10-19-year-olds. These problems also disproportionately affect youth experiencing homelessness, youth in the juvenile justice system, and young people from minority ethnic or sexual backgrounds.
Addressing youth mental health challenges requires a holistic approach that includes prevention, promotion and treatment. This approach must ensure that all youth have access to the services they need, including those who are most at risk.
Psychologists are working to develop new approaches to prevent mental health issues before they occur. For example, they are encouraging schools to offer mental health screenings for youth and developing ways to support the social determinants of health that lead to these problems. They’re also helping children and youth build resiliency by teaching them to recognize and manage difficult emotions. They’re also supporting their families by ensuring that they have access to quality mental health care and community resources.
Prevention
Many of the causes of mental health challenges in youth can be prevented. For example, helping young people to develop skills for dealing with stressful situations and emotions can reduce their risk of developing a mental health problem. Prevention strategies also include ensuring that adolescents have access to treatment and support services when they need them.
Addressing the youth mental health crisis requires comprehensive efforts by state governments and other stakeholders. These efforts can include training and supporting those who work with youth to recognize and respond to mental health concerns. They can also involve educating the public about mental health issues, and working to decrease social and self-stigma around mental illness.
In addition, states can invest in research and development to develop and test innovative strategies that promote healthy youth mental health. Examples of these strategies can include implementing telehealth services, prioritizing data and research with at-risk youth populations, including racial, ethnic and sexual minority youth, those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and youth involved in the juvenile justice system.