For teens, mental health is a major issue. Biologically speaking, they’re at an age where hormones and brain chemicals are telling them that experiences (even ones adults will write off as minor or unimportant) are world-shaking, and socially speaking, they’re in one of the most vulnerable stages of life.
Add in that they’re in a stage where they’re naturally pulling away from parents to a degree, and often in social environments where openly having feelings can add to the sense of vulnerability, and that parents see them in a stage that’s more independent, and maybe harder to reach, than ever, and it’s no surprise that parents can be very disconnected from their teens’ mental health.
The Survey Says:
If you’re like a majority of parents in America — about 76.9&, according to a recent study from the National Center for Health Statistics — you probably believe that your child is getting the necessary emotional and social support when in crisis. Another 16.2% believe that their child is “usually” receiving the necessary support, with tiny fragments of the population acknowledging that this support may only be sufficient “sometimes,” “rarely,” or “never.”
The response kids give anonymously, though, is far different. In the same study, only about a quarter — 27.5% to be exact — of teenagers said they consistently receive the support they need, with another 31% saying the “usually” receive that support. The kids who said they got sufficient support “sometimes” and “rarely” made up two more significant chunks at 21.6% and 12.5% respectively — but the “nevers” are at 7.4%.
Perspective Matters
That’s more than adults estimated the “sometimes,” “rarely,” and “never” groups to be combined. It’s about one in every 13 or 14 kids, about two in any given average-sized high school class, who are saying they never get the support they need for mental health struggles.
Struggles that are easy for adults to write off and minimize — a forgotten textbook or pencil, a peer mocking a fashion choice, a cutting remark from a teacher, a unit text or pop quiz — can be unsurpassable hurdles for a teenager, and nearly impossible to adequately communicate to even the best-intentioned adults.
More Numbers & Statistics
Okay, so out of every dozen or so kids struggling with mental health issues, we have at least one saying that they never get the needed support, and close to half saying they don’t even “usually” get it. But how many kids are dealing with serious mental health crises?
There’s probably not a single teenager in America, or globally, who doesn’t struggle with anxious or depressed feelings at some point. When it comes to diagnosable disorders, though, in which the struggle rises to the level of a medical issue, the stats are staggering.
About one in seven teenagers globally is suffering a mental health disorder, with depression, anxiety disorders, and behavioral disorders classified as “among the leading causes of illness and disability” for humans in this age range, according to the World Health Organization. Suicide is the fourth highest cause of death for teens and young adults (aged 15-29).
Vitally, the org also warns that neglecting mental health as a teenager can result in lifelong difficulties.
What To Watch For
So, as a parent, knowing that your teenager may be unwilling to open up about struggles, but still needs help and support in addressing them, what can you do?
First and foremost, you can cultivate an environment of open communication. Invite your teenager to share their struggles, and don’t downplay or argue against their concerns, even if they don’t sound reasonable to you.
You can also watch for other signs. HealthyChildren lists some of these warning signs, many of which can be boiled down to unexplained changes in mood and behavior. Some specifics:
- Notable changes in sleep, weight, eating habits or other everyday patterns.
- Loss of interest in the things they usually love or quitting activities that they enjoy.
- Withdrawing more than usual from friends, family and community.
- Canceling plans with their closest friends with little or no explanation.
- Academic struggles that seem different or more intense: for example, failing quizzes in their favorite subject or refusing to do homework that once would have seemed easy.
- Running thoughts or worries that won’t leave them alone.
- A whole new set of friends you’ve never met before.
- Refusing to talk about what’s bothering them, even after you’ve made it as safe as possible to discuss hard issues openly.
- Obsession with a certain goal, possibly with the belief that if they don’t achieve it, their life will never be the same.
- Signs of drug, alcohol or other substance use.
- Signs of self-harm such as cuts, burns, bruises, etc. that your teen tries to hide or can’t explain fully and credibly.
- Sexual activity or interest that seems new or more intense than before.
How To Help
Now that you’ve noticed signs that your child may be suffering a mental health crisis, how can you help? Harvard Medical School advises parents to think of mental health just like physical health, and to not hesitate to contact a professional when there’s a problem.
Other key recommendations are to help your child regulate their media diet, facilitate them getting enough sleep, exercise, and free or recreational time, and to chat with them regularly about how they’re doing, as well as keeping lines of communication open with other adults in their lives — teachers, coaches, etc — to make sure everyone is on the same page.