Adolescent mental health is something that many parents should be aware of if they have teenagers. These teen years can come with some unique challenges, especially since so many teenagers spend so much of their time in the digital world. 

Although technology comes with many benefits, it also comes with many risks. Teenagers are especially vulnerable to this, which is why parents need to be actively engaged in their teen’s life and mental health. 

In this article, we will discuss the impact of social media on adolescent mental health and teen anxiety and how parents can become more involved in their teen’s mental health. 

How The Digital World Impacts Teens  

The world has never been more digital, creating a unique set of challenges and risks, especially for those who are younger. Teenagers tend to spend more time online and are more easily influenced by the types of platforms they visit regularly. Social media is especially popular, with up to 95% of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 using at least one social media platform. 

Social media has also created an individual world that teens can retreat to. And although this may not seem like a bad thing on the surface, it can promote mental health issues while also hiding them from parents. That is why it is more important than ever before that parents actively engage in their adolescents’ mental health. 

Here are some examples of the positive and negative effects of social media and other digital resources available to teenagers. 

Positive Affects  

At its core, social media provides an unlimited resource allowing teenagers to engage with others from all over the world. Because teenagers can feel isolated and lonely during this time in their lives, this can provide a much-needed social tool. 

Social media opens the door for teenagers to engage with like-minded individuals whom they may otherwise not have in-person access to. It allows them to express themselves, communicate authentically, and explore their interests. 

Negative Affects  

Despite the fact that social media has many upsides, it can also negatively affect adolescent mental health. Especially now with so many more digital resources and so much of the real world transitioning online, teens are very vulnerable to the negative effects of this. 

Teenagers can easily become addicted to social media, creating an unhealthy reliance that distracts from the real world. This can result in them not focusing on school or real-world relationships.  

A social media addiction can also promote teen anxiety and depression by encouraging constant comparison and a desire to keep up with the never-ending flow of new content. It can distort their view of life and themselves, leading to mental health issues like eating disorders, depression, addiction, etc. 

There is also the risk of cyberbullying, which can easily go under the radar. 

Mental Health Struggles For Students 

Navigating adolescent mental health is especially complex since students experience a variety of stressors that may not be taken seriously. In fact, students are more likely to experience teen anxiety and depression as a result of academic pressure, which is often further encouraged by social media and other digital resources. They may struggle with emotional regulation and stress, which can impact their sleep, relationships, and self-image. 

Online platforms can put additional pressure on students by creating an unrealistic image to compare themselves to. This also creates a constant stream of information, making it harder for students to switch off and properly care for their mental health. 

Adolescent Mental Health Signs to Watch Out For 

Many parents struggle to identify how their teen is doing mental health wise. Even if you encourage communication, this can still be a challenge since many teenagers prefer to keep their feelings private. However, there are some signs that parents can watch out for so that they can identify whether or not their teenager is struggling with mental health: 

• Severe and unprovoked mood swings. 

• Unusual changes in behavior. 

• Difficulty keeping up with academic responsibilities. 

• Lack of interest in hobbies or activities they used to enjoy. 

• Unusual irritability. 

• Frequent headaches or stomach aches. 

• Changes in eating habits. 

• Weight loss or weight gain. 

• Alcohol or drug use. 

• Consistently feeling down or sad. 

• Difficulty sleeping. 

• Reclusive and isolating behavior. 

Because many mental health warning signs are quite vague, parents need to keep a very close eye on their teens. Knowing how your teen usually feels and acts will help you identify if their behavior takes a drastic turn. 

How Parents Can Support Their Teens 

Teens are vulnerable to mental health struggles; that is just the reality. But parents can take steps to better understand and protect their teenagers as they navigate this time in their lives. 

Adolescent Programs 

Joining an adolescent program is the best way to support your teen if they experience any mental health struggles. Adolescent services specifically cater to younger individuals, providing them with the specific mental health care needed to navigate this time of life. 

An adolescent program provides all of the mental health resources parents and teens need in one place. This usually includes individual therapy, family therapy, medication management, mental health assessments, and substance use assessments. 

At Harmony Bay, our adolescent program helps to address a wide range of teen mental health concerns through resources like youth counseling, family therapy, and customized treatment plans. Your teen will have access to all of the mental health tools they need to move forward in our safe and inclusive environment. 

Individual & Family Therapy 

If your teen isn’t ready to join an adolescent program just yet, why not try family therapy and youth counseling? Therapy provides an irreplaceable resource for teens, whether they are struggling with anxiety, depression, social media addiction, or academic pressures. 

Depending on your teen’s unique mental health struggles, they may need to attend individual youth counseling. But family therapy can also provide many additional benefits, especially if you need a safe and open environment to communicate in. 

Open Communication 

Speaking of communication, this is the backbone of supporting your teen’s mental health. Even in the best of circumstances, parents may find it difficult to get their teenagers to communicate. This is nothing new and isn’t a reflection of your parenting abilities; teens just struggle more to communicate how they are feeling. 

To counteract this, you need to strongly encourage your teens to communicate regarding anything they are feeling or going through. Opening up the conversation can help to break the ice, leaving the door open for them to go through whenever they feel ready. 

You can also establish specific times or environments for communication with your teenager. Examples of this include weekly or monthly family meetings or special one-on-one parent-child time. 

Real-World Activities 

Because the digital world takes up so much time for many teenagers, as a parent, you must enforce real-world connection. Make sure you are taking time to connect one-on-one with your teen in some way every day and every week, encouraging them to disconnect from the online world. 

Real-world activities come with many benefits, including creating a stronger relationship between teens and parents as well as encouraging more open discussion. 

Awareness 

No matter what your relationship is like with your teen, the most important thing parents need to do is to be aware. Keep an eye on how your teen is behaving so that you will notice when something changes. This is the only way to truly identify whether or not your teen is going through mental health struggles if they aren’t coming to you directly. 

Knowing how your teen usually acts and feels will help you identify any drastic changes that could indicate a mental health problem.