Youth in crisis are often at the center of conflict and need a holistic response to help them recover. This requires addressing the causes of mental disorders as well as promoting community development that includes education, employment and entrepreneurship.
Home-based crisis intervention programs can save youth from unnecessary psychiatric hospitalizations and out-of-home treatment. These teams are now in operation in New York State and work is underway to expand them statewide.
Identifying a Crisis
If your teen seems overly sad or hopeless, has difficulty sleeping or is exhibiting extreme agitation, they may be experiencing a mental health crisis. Identifying a crisis in your teen is important because, without help, they could harm themselves or someone else.
Depression and suicide are on the rise worldwide, especially in youth. These conditions can result from a variety of factors, such as family discord, stress, economic disadvantages, poor physical health and declining moral values.
They can also be exacerbated during times of crisis, when unemployment increases and support networks disintegrate (see the factsheet on “Reintegrating child soldiers and other displaced youth”). The good news is that many national and international organizations are focusing their attention on these issues, including public health agencies and foundations. But a quick review of the online resources that focus on youth in crisis doesn’t find many that discuss the importance of fostering youth voice in the response to these issues.
Getting Help
Many parents believe that angst and rebelliousness are just part of being a teenager, but when those behaviors escalate into a crisis, it’s time to seek help.
There are a variety of ways to get help for teens in crisis, from professional therapists to crisis lines that connect them with local services and support networks. These programs offer both individual and group therapy, as well as specialized modalities like Dialectical Behavior Therapy to address the unique needs of youth.
One of the most important steps in getting help for a teen mental health crisis is obtaining an accurate assessment. This is crucial to identify any underlying issues that may be contributing to the crisis and ensure that they receive a complete treatment plan. This can also reduce the length of treatment and help them return home sooner. A comprehensive assessment can also prevent any future crises and improve long-term resiliency.
Supporting Your Teen
Many parents expect a certain level of angst and rebelliousness from their teens, but when those behaviors escalate into a mental health crisis, it can be very scary for everyone involved. Talking openly and non-judgmentally with your teen about their challenges, using Nonviolent Communication techniques like making non-judgmental observations and empathizing with feelings, can help you support them through difficult times.
Genetic and environmental factors can also contribute to a mental, emotional or behavioral crisis in a teenager. Depression or anxiety disorders, substance abuse, a history of violence, family conflict, and poor coping skills can all increase the risk of a teen having a mental crisis.
It’s important for all of us to learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a mental health crisis in our teenagers so that we can help them get the help they need as quickly as possible. If you are a parent, an adult, teacher or coach, consider taking Youth Mental Health First Aid training to become more equipped to help a teen in crisis.
Recovering from a Crisis
Recovery is a lifelong journey that involves improving mental health, developing stable and safe living conditions, building supportive relationships and achieving meaningful goals. In a crisis situation, individuals can recover through access to care and support that includes emergency interventions and ongoing treatment.
State leaders are exploring options to improve behavioral health system capacity and address increasing crisis needs among youth, including expanding the use of specialized crisis receiving and stabilization facilities. These are designed to provide immediate assessment and support in a more structured environment than 23-hour observation units or the Living Room Model, but less restrictive than hospitalization.
States are also ensuring that child and transition-age youth crisis settings are informed by family lived experiences, and integrating family members in services to help support post-discharge plans. Some examples include incorporating family representatives on crisis-serving advisory councils and providing trauma supports for families.