Youth in crisis need more support than ever. Depression and feelings of hopelessness have skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic began, especially among girls and LGBTQ youth.
Teach your kids to call or text the Crisis Line when they’re feeling overwhelmed or in need of help. It’s a free service that can connect them with a live counselor.
Signs of a Mental Health Crisis
The pandemic brought a fresh set of stresses for children and teens, making mental health a national priority. But the crisis had been building for years. In the decade leading up to the pandemic, feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness rose 40% among high school students. And according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in 2021, more than 1 in 3 high school girls seriously considered suicide.
Signs of a mental health crisis vary from person to person and can include extreme emotional changes such as anger, sadness or outbursts. Other signs are trouble sleeping, poor eating habits or withdrawing from friends and family. If your child shows any of these symptoms, you should contact your local crisis response services immediately. (Contact information for crisis responders varies by state and region.) They are trained to help individuals in a mental health crisis and can provide support over the phone or online.
Suicidal Thoughts or Behaviors
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in adolescence. For every completed suicide among youth, many more attempts are made.
When a teen tells you they are thinking of hurting themselves or taking their own life, be sure to take it seriously. Don’t dismiss it as attention-seeking or “just a phase.” Rather, talk to a trusted adult, such as a parent, school counselor, coach, clergy member, employer, or healthcare provider.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a disproportionate increase in ED encounters by youth reporting thoughts or behaviors related to suicide. This trend was most pronounced for those who had no history of mental health outpatient encounters in the 1 or 2 years prior to their ED visit.
Various psychosocial interventions have been shown to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Some of these include personalized safety planning, where patients work with a health care professional to create a plan that describes ways to limit access to lethal means, such as firearms, and lists coping strategies. Follow-up phone calls have also been shown to be effective in reducing suicidal behavior.
Changes in Behavior
Adolescents often go through major changes in their behavior. These may include changes in eating habits, body image, and spending time with friends versus family. They may begin smoking or using drugs and alcohol. Their school grades may drop, and they might be more reluctant to do homework or study.
It’s important to keep in mind that these changes are a normal part of adolescence. They’re trying to form their own identity, and they might be pulling away from their parents in search of that. This is a good time to talk to your child and set some boundaries.
It’s also worth considering the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have had on adolescents’ behaviors and mental health. While the varying socioeconomic resources of the countries that were restricting their adolescents’ freedoms can influence the effects, the overall trend is a negative one. This is especially true for adolescent mental health. This includes increased risk behaviors (substance use and norm-breaking), poorer sleep, and an increase in the frequency of being victimized.
Dangerous Behaviors
While pushing boundaries and taking risks is a normal part of adolescent development, dangerous behaviors can put adolescents at risk for serious problems and even death. Adolescents are at particular risk for sexual activity, substance abuse, cigarette smoking and preventable injury and violence (including self-harm).
Teenagers may engage in dangerous behavior for a variety of reasons. These include peer pressure, trying to fit in and the desire to have fun. They may also be experimenting with drugs or alcohol to make them feel better, especially if they have underlying mental health issues like depression, anxiety, trauma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or body dysmorphia.
If your teen starts skipping school, using illegal substances or having unprotected sex with multiple partners, it is important to seek help immediately. Also be on the lookout for abrupt changes in friends and an overall change in attitude.