Adolescence is a time when mental health conditions can emerge and intensify. These conditions are increasingly common, especially in the context of social stressors, economic challenges, and rising expectations.
Youth who receive services or supports often report positive experiences, but a significant number remain unengaged. Several key factors must be addressed to ensure engagement among youth with mental health needs.
Adolescents and Young Adults
Adolescence is a time of rapid physical, emotional and mental development. It’s also a time when many health behaviors are established for life. For example, mental problems often go hand in hand with substance use, violence and high-risk sexual behaviour that can lead to unintended pregnancy and HIV/AIDS. These risks are exacerbated when young people lack supportive environments, social connections and access to care. Fortunately, policies and practices like community conversations, school-based services and telehealth are helping to reduce stigma and improve access to care.
AYAs need age-appropriate care and prevention strategies that promote healthy lifestyles, including nutrition, physical activity, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and reducing risky behaviors. These efforts must include supporting family relationships and providing safe, protective environments that protect their mental health. For example, promoting school connectedness (believing that others in the school care about them and their success) and expanding mental health support can help adolescents stay in school.
Risk Factors
Young people can develop mental illness when they face risk factors such as poverty and family trauma, drug and alcohol abuse, or bullying and social isolation. They may also have a chronic health condition like diabetes or asthma, or they may be dealing with the stress of living in a high-stress environment. Other factors include a history of mental health challenges in the family, and genetics or a family history of depression.
A lack of social support and connection can lead to low self-esteem and poor coping skills. If your teen suddenly withdraws from school or extracurricular activities, this can be a warning sign of loneliness or depression. Also, an uptick in thrill-seeking behaviors like risky sexual behavior, stealing or substance use can indicate an underlying problem. If you notice these red flags, make sure your teen is connected to mental health care. Protective factors can counteract some of these risk factors, such as a strong family bond and supportive relationships.
Treatment
Efforts to build resilience, offer alternatives to risky behaviours and provide support in times of crisis can alter the course of adolescents’ lives. Psychologists are tackling the core issues surrounding youth mental health, developing and disseminating solutions in families, schools and at the state level.
Clinicians can help adolescents and their parents by using a variety of preventive services, such as online screening for depression, anxiety and substance use disorders. These are generally covered by health insurance plans and can be completed quickly and anonymously.
Increasing investment in mental health for adolescents, including in education, community development and enabling environments is essential. But more must be done to ensure that adolescents who need help, especially those living in humanitarian and fragile settings, are able to get it. They may need to wait for assistance because of stigma, lack of access or other barriers. In some countries, there are as few as 0.01 child mental health workers per 100,000 people.
Prevention
Efforts are needed to prevent mental health challenges in youth. Most disorders have clear windows of opportunity to be prevented and most risk factors can be changed. Prevention approaches that promote mental health, like helping youth feel connected to school and family, also reduce a range of other risks, including drug use and higher risk sexual behaviors that can lead to unintended pregnancy and HIV infection.
Adverse childhood experiences, such as parental mental illness, death of a loved one or involvement in the juvenile justice or child welfare system, increase the risk for poor mental health outcomes. These types of events can cause trauma and lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Multiple sectors must work together to create an enabling policy environment for youth health. This includes creating safe and supportive schools, expanding access to mental health services and reviewing discipline policies. Parents, pediatricians and teachers can all play a role in promoting positive social connections and mental health.