Mental health is an important part of overall health for children as well as adults. -It is normal for children and youth to experience various types of emotional distress as they develop and mature. For example, it is common for children to experience anxiety about school, or youth to experience short periods of depression that are transient in nature. When symptoms persist, it may be time to seek professional assistance. While most youth are healthy, physically and emotionally, one in every four to five youth in the general population meet the criteria for a lifetime mental disorder and as a result may face discrimination and negative attitudes.
Mental health disorders can cause youth to face challenges in their homes, school, communities, and social relationships. For most youth, however, these disorders can be remediated with interventions such as treatment, peer support, community-based prevention initiatives, and most importantly, a supportive network of family and friends.
It is perfectly okay for youth to experience and/or display several forms of emotional distress throughout their development. For instance, a common anxiety for youth experience is anxieties related to school, peer relationships, and self-discovery.
Signs and behaviors to look for include, among others:
- Marked failure in school performance
- Poor grades in school despite efforts to excel
- Severe worry or anxiety, as shown by regular refusal to go to school, go to sleep or take part in activities that are normal for the child’s age
- Frequent physical complaints
- Marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
- Extreme difficulties in concentrating that get in the way at school or home
- Sexual acting out
- Depression shown by sustained, prolonged negative mood and attitude, often accompanied by poor appetite, difficulty sleeping, or thoughts of death
- Severe mood swings
- Strong worries or anxieties that get in the way of daily life, such as at school or socializing
- Repeated use of alcohol and/or drugs
Critical supports and services need to be comprehensive and community-wide and should include:
What schools can do:
- Help students cope with emergencies and their aftermath
- Provide safe and supportive environments—whether in person or virtually
- Linking students to mental health services
- Integrating social-emotional learning
- Training staff
- Supporting staff mental health
- Review discipline policies to ensure equity
- Building safe and supportive environments
What parents and families can do:
- Communicate openly and honestly, including about their values
- Supervise their adolescent to facilitate healthy decision-making
- Spend time with their adolescent, enjoying shared activities
- Become engaged in school activities and help with homework
- Volunteer at their adolescent’s school
- Communicate regularly with teachers and administrators
What healthcare providers can do:
- Ask adolescents about family relationships and school experiences as a part of routine health screenings
- Encourage positive parenting practices
- Engage parents in discussions about how to connect with their adolescents, communicate effectively, and monitor activities and health behaviors
- Educate parents and youth about adolescent development and health risks
If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Resources
- https://988lifeline.org
- https://www.crisistextline.org
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/mental-health
- https://mhanational.org
- https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health
- https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/youth-mental-health
- https://youth.gov/youth-topics/youth-mental-health
- https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults
- https://www.thetrevorproject.org/