Chaotic emotions. Sexuality and sexual curiosity. Dramatic body changes. Identity questions. Craving social acceptance. Whirlwind high school romances… Whew! Those teen years are certainly very ‘special’ years!
The period between the ages of 11 and 18 can be pretty dramatic for young people because they’re going through so many rapid mental, physical and psychological changes. Oh, and let’s not forget the crazy hormonal fluctuations that can cause them to be warm and cuddly one minute, and untamed and aggressive the next.
If there ever was a time of life when mental health should be a top concern, it would be throughout adolescence. Pre-teens and teens encounter some unique challenges that make them particularly vulnerable to mental health issues. They are just discovering their identity and forming opinions about the world. They’re exploring the complexities of independence, autonomy, accountability and the need for acceptance all at once.
Here are several factors that increase the risk for mental health struggles in Teenagers;
Home environment: Absent parents, single-parent households, abusive parents, violent neighbourhoods and gangs, parental neglect, poverty, dealing with an incarcerated or mentally ill parent, and being in the foster system.
Personal Identity: Low confidence and self-esteem, body image issues, personality discovery, shaming and devaluing language from others, and struggles with planning their future.
Relationships and Social Life: Difficult relationships with parents, the need for acceptance from friends and peers, rejection from the opposite sex, developing an individual voice within a group, bullying and scapegoating from siblings, sexual advances from family members, and social media-related issues such as exposure to online bullying and predation, managing social media popularity and comparisons etc.
School Environment: Racism and exclusion by teachers and peers, unhealthy competition and comparison with peers, bullying and body-shaming, pranking, peer pressure, inappropriate advances from teachers, navigating school-based violence (shootings, sexual assault, student suicide), and pressure from academic performance.
Health: Chronic illness, caring for a terminally ill parent, lack of access to quality healthcare, eating disorders, reproductive health issues (i.e.abortion, contraception, teenage pregnancies), and risk-taking behaviours such as substance abuse and addictions.
Sexual Health: Sexuality discovery, gender identity confusion, sexual assault, sexual rejection, navigating sexual urges, hormonal fluctuations around menstrual cycles, pornography, masturbation, and teenage prostitution.
These can predispose teenagers to depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, PTSD or other serious mental health conditions. Of course, some young people are somehow able to cope with some of these factors without major psychological implications but many probably won’t.
When to suspect if your adolescent may be struggling mentally or emotionally
According to a 2024 RaisingChildren article titled “Mental health: pre-teens and teenagers”, the Australian parenting website outlines the following signs to look out for in pre-teens and teens:
- For children younger than 12 years, warning signs might include:
- sadness a lot of the time and ongoing worries or fears
- a drop in school performance
- aches and pains that don’t go away quickly
- loss of appetite or being picky with food
- problems fitting in at school or getting along with other children
- behaviour that’s consistently irritable, aggressive, threatening, destructive, angry or violent
- sleep problems, including nightmares.
- For children 12 years and older, watch out for;
- seeming down, feeling things are hopeless, being tearful or lacking motivation
- showing sudden changes in behaviour, often for no obvious reason
- having trouble eating or sleeping
- doing less well at school, or suddenly refusing to go to school, or work
- avoiding friends or social contact or signs of self-harm such as burning or cutting themselves
- saying they have physical pain – for example, headache, stomach ache or backache
- being irritable, easily annoyed, aggressive or antisocial e.g. missing school, having trouble with the police, fighting or stealing
- being very anxious about weight or physical appearance, losing weight or failing to gain weight as they grow
- spending too much time using social media and gaming.
According to WHO, “Globally, it is estimated that one in seven (14%) of 10–19-year-olds experience mental health conditions, yet these remain largely unrecognized and untreated.”
Helpful Tips on promoting mental health in adolescents
To help promote mental health and prevent long-term emotional problems in this age group, adults should keep in mind that these are often stormy years for them and much of what seems like ‘acting out’ is an outward expression of the confusing feelings they’re trying to navigate within. Try these 5 tips to support and equip them to manage their mental health positively;
- Teach healthy habits
Raise them to understand and prioritise healthy habits such as exercise, meditation, getting adequate sleep, controlling screen time and spending time in nature. These habits are important for managing stress and supporting their mental health. Encourage them to pursue their hobbies without hovering or forcing your interests on them.
- Encourage Self-expression
Young people NEED to know they can express themselves without being judged or shut down by adults. Silence is NOT golden in this age group and it’s important to create an environment where they can share what’s going on with them. Invite them to join you in making dinner or going shopping to create informal avenues for open discussions. And please listen with understanding, even when you disagree with them. Model the art of disagreeing peacefully so they can learn to healthily manage conflicts.
- Educate them about healthy relationships
Help them understand what healthy relationships should look like i.e. relationships that are supportive, encourage mutual respect for individuality and boundaries, and have a positive influence on them. This allows them to carefully choose and build relationships where they feel supported while avoiding those that constantly put them down.
- Identifying warning signs
Help them identify impending or ongoing signs of a mental health condition so that they know when they need help and ask for it. Let them know that while they are not expected to be happy and bubbly all the time, they should be sensitive to extreme reactions and sudden changes in thier emotional state, knowing that it’s not normal to be sad, angry, or aggressive all the time. Help them understand that asking for help is a sign of strength.
- Provide access to help
Whenever they need help, make sure they can get it. Enrol them in schools that provide mental health services, and ensure your health insurance plan makes provision for their access to therapy. Stay informed about support groups, teen clubs and mental health programs around you where they can be supported emotionally.
References
- Winther, J. (2024, September 11). Mental health: pre-teens and teenagers. Raising Children. https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/mental-health-physical-health/about-mental-health/teen-mental-health
- World Health Organisation. (2024, October 10). Mental health of adolescents. World Health Organisation. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health