A certain level of angst is expected during the teenage years, but it should not be mistaken for a mental health crisis. If a teen is showing serious signs of distress, it may be time to seek help for them.
Look for red flags like significant changes in their mood or risky behavior. Also, monitor their sleep patterns and their eating habits.
Suicide
Suicide rates among youth increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, but feelings of despair and hopelessness have been growing for years. In fact, emergency departments report a rise in high school students needing treatment for suicide attempts and thoughts.
Look for sudden mood changes, a lack of interest in school or other activities, withdrawal from friends and family and any mention of death or suicide. A child or teen may also show changes in physical appearance and sleep habits.
If your child is thinking about suicide, be sure to keep an appointment with a mental health professional. Even if they say they are better or won’t go, your presence will help ensure that they get the care they need.
Self-Harm
Those who self-harm use behaviors such as cutting, burning and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) to control or cope with painful emotions. This behavior can look very similar to suicide. Most people who self-harm do not want to die, but they are struggling with overwhelming emotions.
Talking to your teen about their behavior is the first step. Your teen may be resistant to talking about it or will try to rationalize the behavior. It is important to find a professional who can help you understand your teen’s behavior.
Often, those who engage in self-harm are struggling with family problems and may also have difficulty expressing their feelings. A therapist can teach your teen healthy ways to express themselves and provide you with tools to help your teen stop self-harming.
Anger Issues
If a teen is consistently irritable or has a short temper, it may be a sign that they are struggling to regulate their emotions. Similarly, aggressive behavior such as physical aggression or verbal aggression toward family members, friends, peers and themselves is a red flag that warrants intervention.
Anger can be a sign of an underlying mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression. In such cases, therapy can help address the underlying issue, reduce anger and improve overall emotional well-being. Behavioral therapy, such as CBT, helps teens learn to identify and change negative thoughts that lead to anger. It also encourages a healthy outlet for their anger, such as journaling or art.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse can have many physical and psychological effects on children and young adults. Some of these include unexplained genital discharge, increased or decreased appetite, changes in sleeping patterns, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Those who experience childhood sexual violence are more likely to be re-victimized in adulthood and have chronic health issues, especially reproductive or gastrointestinal disorders. Victims of sexual violence may develop PTSD or have difficulty forming intimate relationships.
Physical abuse includes any unwanted physical contact, while sexual abuse is nonconsensual touching, voyeurism (trying to look at the victim’s naked body), or exposing them to pornography. Often, perpetrators of sexual abuse are close relatives of victims.
Drug Abuse
Adolescent drug abuse can have numerous negative effects on the health of teenagers. It can lead to a decline in school performance and robs them of the future career opportunities they would have otherwise gained. It can also exacerbate mental health issues and lead to the need for more extensive treatment.
Drug abuse can also increase a teenager’s risk of contracting infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis by sharing needles or engaging in unsafe sexual behavior while under the influence of drugs. This is especially true for teens in rural areas where the availability of care may be limited.
Many states have worked to incorporate family lived experiences into their crisis receiving and stabilization facilities in order to ensure that adolescents receive the help they need. Some have even included family members on their Advisory Councils.
Parental Abuse
Abuse by children – emotional, verbal or physical – is common worldwide. It can cause severe injuries, sexually transmitted diseases and mental health problems like anxiety and depression.
The abuse is most often caused by a lack of social support for parents – who may not have friends, neighbours or family members who can be emotionally supportive. It also can be caused by a child who wants to control, is impulsive and has low self-esteem.
Studies have shown that perceived parental psychological abuse has a direct relationship with mental health issues in adolescents. This is a serious concern as many people do not recognize or report parental abuse.