Five Important Considerations for Adolescent Mental Health

Posted on

Return to blog >

By Lauren Neiser, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC

 

 

 

 

 

We as humans, from a biological perspective, are meant to be vulnerable and connected beings. We aren’t the strongest or fastest species, and yet humans dominate the animal kingdom. We do this because of our ability to have and express our emotions and thoughts to others, listen to and respect the thoughts and emotions of others, and to connect and work together.

Despite this innate human characteristic, many of us struggle to let our guards down and be open to others. We often find ourselves compulsively striving for perfection or insisting our way is the right way. Somewhere along the way, we got the message that if we only try harder and be better, our life too will be better. Or we may have come to believe that showing emotions makes us weak and pushes people away. This way of coping is like a suit of armor, we might feel it protects Adolescence is generally a time of significant change. Changes in hormones, body composition, new feelings and emotions, relationships, social and familial interaction, and responsibilities can often lead to varying hardships and idiosyncrasies. If you are reading this article as an adult, try to think back to when you entered adolescence and the challenges you faced. These likely included attempting to develop your own personal identity, being asked to decide what career path you may want to take as a high schooler, learning to navigate relationships, and potential intense academic pressure from the adults in your life. Add in environmental factors, such as social media, which often fuels comparison and judgement, and this can leave an adolescent feeling overwhelmed and isolated.

Thankfully, there are ways we, as adults, can support adolescents in our life and this includes awareness about their mental health. In this article, we are going to highlight five considerations for adolescent mental health, which include the following:

  1. Early diagnosis and treatment can be crucial for positive outcomes
  2. Many mental health ailments/disorders begin in adolescence
  3. Open communication and a strong support system are important
  4. Therapy and medication can improve symptoms and outcomes
  5. Environmental factors can impact mental health

Early Diagnosis and Treatment/ Mental Health Ailments in Adolescence

Many mental health disorders emerge in adolescence and can lead to symptoms such as excessive worry, mood fluctuations, behavior changes, and self-harm. The World Health Organization (WHO) states anxiety and depressive disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and even panic attacks, are the most prevalent in ages 10-19 years old (WHO, 2024). The WHO (2024) reports, “It is estimated that 4.4% of 10–14-year-olds and 5.5% of 15–19-year-olds experience an anxiety disorder. Depression is estimated to occur among 1.4% of adolescents aged 10–14 years, and 3.5% of 15–19-year-olds” (para 2).

Emerging mental illness, as well as environmental, academic, and social stressors, can lead to another very distressing symptom, suicidal ideation (SI). The CDC (2024) reports, for adolescents ages 14–18-year-old, “…39.7% of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, 28.5% experienced poor mental health, 20.4% seriously considered attempting suicide, and 9.5% had attempted suicide” (para 9). There are many compounding factors and comorbidities that may contribute to the elevated suicide risk within adolescence. Dulcan (2016), states this increased risk is “likely due to multiple factors, including decreased supervision with increased age, psychopathology of many mental illnesses beginning in adolescence, increased cognitive abilities to develop, plan, and carry out a suicide plan, as well as developmentally increased impulsivity” (p 571). Substance use, such as alcohol and marijuana, may also play a part in exacerbation of mood and anxiety symptoms, as well as self-harm urges/engagement or SI. It is crucial, as an adolescent’s guardian or member of their support system, to arrange treatment with a mental health provider if symptoms arise so treatment may be initiated sooner rather than later. Early intervention has been shown to lead to improved outcomes and management of symptoms (WHO, 2024).

Open Communication and Support/Contributing Environmental Factors
To properly identify mental health symptoms and ailments in adolescents, it is important to foster an open, supportive dialogue related to mental health, stressors, and changes that may occur in ages 10-18 years old. Research shows adolescents often fear discussing their symptoms or struggles with their guardians or support system. Cooper et al (2023) found, “Among the 987,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 in 2022 with a past year MDE [major depressive episode] who perceived an unmet need for mental health treatment, the most common reason for not receiving treatment was that they thought they should have been able to handle their mental health, emotions, or behavior on their own (86.9 percent)” (p.6). Therefore, it is crucial to harbor a safe environment for adolescents to seek support by practicing active listening, using “I” statements rather than “you” statements, which can sometimes project blame or judgement, avoid impatient or irritated body language, and do not assume or attempt to read the adolescent’s mind. Feel empowered to ask calm, clarifying questions, which often convey support and concern. Be mindful that environmental factors, including family and social interactions, which consist of social media and family dynamics, directly impact an adolescent’s overall well-being and mental health.

Therapy and Medications
There are varying treatment options available for adolescents struggling with mental health ailments. Many adolescents will benefit from care in the outpatient setting, including a combination of psychotherapy and psychotropic medication. Many forms of therapy are available, including individual, group based, and family therapies. Each offers benefits to the adolescent, such as the identification of coping mechanisms and skills to manage their emotional dysregulation or anxiety symptoms or even building stronger communication. It is best to speak with a mental health professional to determine the best course of action and treatment plan for an adolescent.

References