Teen’s Mental Health

Life can have challenges for people of all ages – including teenagers. This age can have a lot of challenges from the physical and hormonal changes in their bodies, to the pressures of school, career choices and social status. Some youth can may even be facing serious disorders. A variety of conditions and concerns may prompt you to seek help for your teenage child. Dealing with minors is different from treating adults. In the past, youth were simply perceived as smaller versions of adults. This way of thinking did not contribute to their development, but thankfully psychologist Jean Piaget pioneered child psychology and confirmed that indeed – children and youth think differently from adults. It’s important that parents adapt this way of thinking and consider that their children have different needs based on their age. Youth see the world from another perspective and face many challenges for the first time. In the process of growing up children often have trouble coping at some time (at home, at school, with divorce and separation, with their peers, etc.), or they exhibit behaviours which concern or alarm their parents or teachers. Some teens face more problems than others, depending on their home or school situation, and sometimes due to biological or inherited conditions. Others face psychological disorders that parents may not notice or do not want to acknowledge.

Teens that have been involved in traumatic situations can sometimes be left unable to cope with what just happened. A loss of a close loved one, such as a parent or grandparent, a difficult divorce, natural disasters, and other traumas can all have a tremendous impact on that child or youth’s mental health and overall well-being.

Some issues your teen may be facing today include:

• Adoption Issues
• Divorce and separation
• Communication difficulties
• Peer pressure
• Sibling rivalry
• Extended family difficulties
• Mixed family Issues
• Bullying
• Learning disorders
• Peer relationships
• Sexual Issues

Symptoms & signs of mental health challenges in teens

Emotional symptoms

• Overwhelming fears of things that are normally not seen as scary
• Lack of appetite
• Regressing to a younger, or infantile state
• Lack of concentration
• Trouble performing in school
• False sense of bravado
• Mood changes
• Behaviour changes
• Common emotional symptoms of anxiety or depression
• A sudden change in marks or performance
• Damaging behaviour (to self, others or property)
• Acting withdrawn and uninterested in the world around them
• Trouble with the law or at school

Physical symptoms

• Nightmares
• Lack of appetite or overeating
• Lack of concentration
• Headaches
• Frequent stomach aches
• Self harm
• Changes in sleeping habits
• Common physical symptoms of anxiety or depression
• Substance use