Mental health includes emotional, social, and psychological well-being. It enables people to cope with life stresses, adjust their behavior appropriately, relate to others, and make choices. It affects how people feel, think, and act. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Mental health issues are disturbances in the ways people feel, think, and act. These issues are more common during adolescence than at any other time during childhood. Because of this frequency, adolescents are routinely screened for these issues by health care professionals.
When a mental health issue is identified by a health care professional, adolescents are given practical advice and, when appropriate, encouragement to accept treatment provided by specialists.
(See also Introduction to Health Care Issues in Adolescents.)
Mental Health Issues in Adolescents
Depression and anxiety are common among adolescents, and doctors routinely screen for these disorders during well-child examinations. Many adolescents may have feeling of sadness and worry. These feelings are normal, and health care professionals can provide reassurance and guidance to adolescents about how to navigate these feelings. When feelings of anxiety and depression begin to interfere with how adolescents function at school, with relationships, or at home, they may be diagnosed with an anxiety or depressive disorder. After diagnosis, health care professionals develop treatment plans that may include medications or other therapies. The COVID-19 pandemic and the global response to it, including changes in daily routines and school schedules, increased the rates of depression and anxiety among many adolescents.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 14- to 18-year-olds in the United States. Thoughts about suicide (called suicidal ideation) are also common. Adolescents with suicidal ideation require an immediate mental health evaluation, and parents should not try to determine how serious the problem is on their own.
Mood disorders and disruptive behavioral disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder often develop during adolescence. Typically, adolescents undergo therapy for these disorders and parents are given advice and support.
Adolescents who have anxiety or mood disorders may have physical symptoms such as fatigue or chronic fatigue, dizziness, headache, and abdominal or chest pain.
Eating disorders are relatively common among girls but may also occur in boys and can be life threatening. These disorders may be difficult to detect because adolescents go to great lengths to hide the behaviors and weight changes. Eating disorders are best managed by a specialized team that includes mental health professionals.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common mental health disorder of childhood and often persists into adolescence and adulthood. However, adolescents who have difficulty paying attention may instead have another disorder, such as depression or a learning disability
Thought disorders, in which a person has difficulty distinguishing between fantasy and reality (also called psychosis), most commonly begin during adolescence or early adulthood. Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are examples of thought disorders.
The first episode of psychosis is called a psychotic break. Periods of psychosis may be related to substance use. In these cases, psychosis may resolve after a period of time. Psychotic episodes may occur with cannabis (marijuana) use, particularly edible products. Some adolescents who have a psychotic episode caused by cannabis use go on to develop a chronic psychotic disorder. Adolescents are treated with a combination of medication and therapy.
Impact of social media on mental health
The emergence of social media has changed how adolescents communicate with each other and access information. For some adolescents, social media is a space where they can be creative and connect. For adolescents who identify as LGBTQIA, the internet and social media are safe spaces where they can connect with and feel supported by peers and other adolescents who identify as LGBTQIA. However, there is a strong and growing relationship between poor mental health and social media use among adolescents that may be related to how excessive time spent on social media disrupts normal adolescent behaviors and activities.
More Information
The following is an English-language resource that may be useful. Please note that The Manual is not responsible for the content of this resource.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Provides confidential emotional support to youth in suicidal crisis or emotional distress (or call or text 988)
