Teen Mental Health
Mental health conditions or mental disorders are common among teens. Research shows that one out of five children ages 13-18 have or will have a mental health condition. Fifty percent of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14 and 75% of cases begin by age 24. Unfortunately, the stigma around mental health and mental illness prevents many people from talking about their experiences and can cause increased feelings of isolation and hopelessness for those who have a condition.
A mental health condition isn’t anyone’s fault
A mental health condition isn’t anyone’s fault—not yours or your family’s. Mental health conditions are not caused by one specific reason. Typically, the cause of a mental health condition results from a combination of genetics as well as biological, environmental, and psychological factors. What’s important to know is that most mental health conditions are treatable, and help is available.
Common Mental Health Conditions in Teens
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports these conditions as the most common mental health diagnosis for teens:
Anxiety Disorders
Characterized by feelings of excessive uneasiness, worry, and fear
Occurs in approximately 32% of 13- to 18-year-olds
Examples include generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias
Depression
Depressed mood that affects thoughts, feelings, and daily activities including eating, sleeping, and working
Occurs in approximately 13% of 12- to 17-year-olds
Examples include depressive disorder, postpartum depression, and seasonal affective disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Characterized by continued inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with daily functioning or development
Occurs in approximately 9% of 13- to 18-year-olds
Eating Disorders
Characterized by extreme and abnormal eating behaviors, such as insufficient or excessive eating
Occurs in almost 3% of 13- to 18-year-olds
Examples include anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder
If you or someone you know suffers from a mental health condition, always remember you are not alone, and help is available. Don’t wait to reach out for help! Studies show that the sooner people access treatment services, the better their outcomes.
Teen Stress
Being a teenager isn’t easy. Whether it’s pressure from school, friends or family, it’s normal to feel stress or anxiety during this time in life. But our bodies can only handle small amounts of stress. So when stress becomes too much or overwhelming, it can take a toll on our physical and mental health, which is why it’s important to pause and self-reflect to pinpoint what’s causing the stress as well as find healthy ways to cope with it.
School
There’s a lot of pressure placed on teenagers to perform and do well academically. The expectations and responsibilities around academics aren’t just limited to achieving good grades, it also includes excelling on standardized testing, applying to colleges and for scholarships, as well as deciding what to do after graduation.
Social
Teens can also experience stress in their social lives. Socializing is easier for some people than it is for others. Social activities linked to teen stress include trying to fit in and make friends, doing things with others outside your comfort zone (aka peer pressure), joining and participating in extracurricular activities and social events, etc. Social media has also been found to cause teens stress and anxiety. The non-stop connection and ability to see what others are doing online can perpetuate FOMO and/or make it easy for teens to develop negative self-images by constantly compare themselves to others.
FOMO: fear of missing out; a social anxiety brought about by social media and following others online.
Family
Worries at home such as family conflict, divorce, illness, and/or financial hardship are also stressors for teens. Parents can also unintentionally add to stress through pressure and high expectations they’ve placed on their teens.
Body Image
There’s no getting around it: teens go through many physical changes and these changes are usually hard to hide. The bodily changes teens experience and the rate at which they grow and develop can make them feel very vulnerable and self-conscious, which can impact their social lives, extracurricular activities, and more. It’s normal for teenagers to feel disconnected from their bodies and experience a lost sense of self, as the body they’ve known for many years starts to change.
Friendships
At times it feels like peers are at the center of a teen’s world. Like any relationship, friendships require a lot of time and energy. It’s easy for teenagers to feel stressed about the “right” way to respond to friends’ needs. While it’s important to learn how to be a good friend to others, it can be hard for teens to balance friendships with practicing self-care, set boundaries, and recognize when certain friendships may not be good for them.
Romantic Relationships
Similar to how their bodies are changing, teens also begin to experience new, complex feelings of romantic interest and attraction to others. These new feelings can be stressful and confusing, especially if they face questions about their gender identity or sexual orientation.
Major Life Events
Regardless of age, major life changes can cause stress. Illness, accidents, family changes, bullying, abuse, etc. can have a huge effect on our stress levels, including teens’. Moving and starting at a new school also creates stress or anxiety for teens as they try to form new friendships and adopt a new lifestyle. Additionally, teens can feel stressed when reading about or experiencing first-hand, major world events that potentially threaten or risk the safety of themselves, their friends, and/or their loved ones.
You don’t need to face stress alone!
Stress is a part of life for everyone—teens included. Never hesitate to contact someone for help if you’re experiencing overwhelming stress and/or struggling. You can also refer to this list to learn healthy ways to channel stress.