Adolescence is a challenging time as children are in that in-between stage before they enter adulthood. People often underestimate the mental health challenges adolescents can face, which creates a harmful stigma.

If you have a child between the ages of 10 and 19, you need to be aware of the mental health issues they may be struggling with. After all, it can be surprisingly difficult to spot mental health issues in children, especially if you don’t know what to look for.

In this article, we will be discussing the most common mental health challenges in adolescents and what you can do to help them.

The Most Common Mental Health Disorders in Adolescents

Understanding the mental health disorders adolescents could face is something that every parent needs to prioritize. Even if your child seems perfectly fine on the surface, they may be hiding what they are going through. It can be especially easy to overlook mental health disorders in young children, as you may assume that they are simply too young to struggle with these types of issues. 

However, mental health disorders can develop at a very young age and can go unnoticed for many years. When this happens, the risks associated with that disorder and its severity have the potential to become much greater.   

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are much more common in adolescents than you may realize, and can develop in children as young as 13. Especially in young children, it can be easy to overlook this type of disorder as normal emotions.

One of the main dangers of anxiety disorders in adolescents is the strong likelihood of it persisting into adulthood. Especially if it is overlooked and goes untreated, it is very likely that it will only become more severe and more widespread. 

Examples of the different types of anxiety disorders adolescents could experience include: 

• Panic disorder 

• Generalized anxiety disorder 

• Social anxiety disorder 

• Post-traumatic stress disorder 

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder 

Some symptoms of these anxiety disorders that you can watch for include panic attacks, abnormal fear or stress levels, avoidance of social interaction, and obsessive and repetitive behaviors.  

Depression

Depression is another common mental health challenge adolescents could face that is very easy to overlook. Although we widely recognize depression in adults, children often aren’t added to that equation. However, even very young adolescents can experience depression, including depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder.

No matter the form it takes, depression is a very serious mental health concern that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Adolescents are at a significant risk since they are often too young to understand the severity of depression and may already have difficulty regulating their emotions. 

Some specific symptoms of depression to watch out for include: 

• Depressed mood 

• Moodiness 

• Changes in appetite  

• Lack of interest in daily activities 

• Problems sleeping 

• Social withdraw 

Eating Disorders

Most parents would never assume that their child could suffer from an eating disorder, but the reality is that this is another common mental health challenge adolescents could face. Eating disorders are often the result of bullying, peer pressure, and low self-esteem.

Although it may seem as though eating disorders would be easy to notice, adolescents often go to extremes to hide this from their parents. They may not be eating outside of the home, or they may be quietly restricting meals. Parents also need to remember that eating disorders can take the form of abnormal eating behaviors or excessive eating.  

Some examples of common eating disorders include: 

• Anorexia nervosa 

• Bulimia 

• Binge eating disorder 

ADHD

One mental health disorder in adolescents that is more widely recognized is ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This disorder is more commonly recognized, which means that it is the most commonly treated in adolescents.

It is a disorder that results in continued inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity that can interfere with your child’s daily life and development. It is important to seek professional treatment if you believe your child has ADHD so that they can get a proper diagnosis. 

Recognizing the Mental Health Warning Signs

A common challenge parents face when it comes to recognizing mental health challenges in adolescents is understanding the symptoms. Mental health is very complex and affects every individual differently.

You also have to remember that mental health is not just the absence or the presence of specific symptoms. You need to look at your child as a whole to connect the dots if they are showing multiple symptoms or an absence of certain normal behaviors.

Here are some examples of the general mental health warning signs that could indicate that your child is suffering: 

• A disinterest in activities that they would normally find enjoyable. 

• Fatigue or general low energy levels. 

• Difficulty sleeping or sleep disorders, such as insomnia or urinating in the bed. 

• Obsessive behaviors around food. 

• Fixating or romanticizing thoughts of suicide. 

• Behaving in a destructive or risky way. 

• Using addictive substances, such as alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. 

• Harming themselves. 

• Retreating from social interaction. 

How to Help Your Adolescent Navigate Mental Health

If your child is showing any of the above symptoms or behaviors, they may be struggling with their mental health. Unfortunately, most children do not reach out to their parents when they are struggling mentally. They may feel ashamed, judged, or they may not know how to put their feelings into words. 

Older adolescents naturally tend to pull away from their parents, while younger adolescents don’t always recognize what is normal mental health and what isn’t. Because of this, it is essential that parents are vigilant and intervene when they believe their child needs help. 

Create Open Communication

The number one thing you need to do if you notice any mental health warning signs in your child is to communicate with them. Your child needs to feel as though they can come to you with their concerns and feelings, even if they don’t necessarily understand them themselves.

A big part of creating open communication is educating your children about mental health and why it is important. You also need to create communication that is free of judgment and allows them to feel as though they can talk to you about anything.

This is a step you should take long before you notice any mental health problems as a preventative measure. 

Create Problem-Solving Strategies 

When you create open communication with your child, the two of you can find ways of improving their mental health. Although this is not to be used as replacement for actual mental health treatment, problem-solving strategies can be useful. 

For instance, if your child is struggling with social anxiety, the two of you can plan social outings to help build their confidence. Or if they are struggling with depression, you could help them use mood-regulating activities, such as spending time in nature, journaling, or meditating.  

Seek Professional Treatment

No matter the mental health challenge your adolescent is facing, it is always strongly recommended to seek professional treatment. Children already have a difficult time regulating their emotions as their brains have not yet fully developed. This becomes that much harder when they are struggling with something like anxiety or depression.

An adolescent mental health program can specifically focus on the challenges adolescents face, providing them with strategies that work for them. Not only does this create a problem focused approach, but your child may find it more helpful as it includes professionals outside of their family circle.

There are many mental health program options available, including adolescent mental health programs and telehealth options that provide flexibility and teen-specific treatment. 

At Harmony Bay, we believe it’s never too late to begin your healing journey, so reach out to us today to get started!