Teens and Mental Health

Today's youngsters are struggling with mental health issues on a scale that's not been seen before. The World Health Organization (WHO) puts the percentage of teens and children experiencing mental health issues globally to be between 10 and 20%. 

Further, according to the American Journal of Managed Care, the years between 2008 and 2017 saw a significant increase in the number of adults suffering from mental health disorders across the majority of adult age groups. However, the biggest increase (71%), was among the younger adult demographic (18-25yrs).

With numerous factors at play, it is difficult to point out the exact cause of the increased physiological distress among teens. Nonetheless, the Pew Research Center opines that 61% of teens in the US admit feeling a lot of pressure to achieve good grades in school. Additionally, 29% of American teens feel under high pressure to look and dress well, while 28% struggle with the pressure to fit in. Seeing as the world is more or less fully interconnected, it is safe to say that teens in other countries also face similar situations. 

Key Factors Shaping The Teen Mental Health Landscape 

Below are some of the most notable factors in regards to the mental health of young adults:

1. Information Overload

We live in a never-ending cycle of news, with both mainstream media and social media churning out news and information every other hour. Consequently, young people are in a constant struggle to keep up with the news to appear cool or knowledgeable to their friends or social media followers. This information overload on young minds causes anxiety, frustration and stress, among others, and consequently leads to mental health problems. 

2. Social Media

With smartphones and the internet guzzling up an unacceptably large portion of our lives, teens are finding it hard to cope with it all. For one, the majority of teens log on to their social media accounts the first thing in the morning, which leaves them vulnerable to peer pressure. It doesn't help that cyberbullying and sexual harassment have taken over most social platforms.

3. Stigma Surrounding Mental Health

First off, most teens are embarrassed to see a therapist due to the social stigma that surrounds mental health care. Admitting to seeing a therapist or having a mental disorder carries a high risk of being branded weak, dumb, or a 'sicko.' As a result, most of the teens choose to hide their emotions, worries and frustrations. 

Fortunately, mental health campaigns by governments and celebrities have seen a slow and steady lifting of stigma around mental health disorders. Hopefully, more young people will seek professional help when in psychological wilderness.

5. Worries About The Future

Everywhere you look, from your TV to your local newspaper or even Instagram, you will see cynical reports about your country or the world. For instance, global warming, Brexit and terrorism are some of the most widely discussed things in our current world.

All these negative news and predictions increase the pressure on young people, who get anxious and concerned about their future lives. Eventually, this affects their lives, both in terms of productivity and mental stability.

Coping With Back To School Anxieties

According to a 2017 study, one in every four parents stays at home to tend to an anxious child. Notably, anxiety is common among school-going children, and it may be caused by several factors, some of which are beyond your child’s control.

Children with back to school anxieties will conjure up all sorts of excuses to remain at home and may become highly irritable. Though this is normal, letting your child stay at home will only enable their fears even further.

Today, we will discuss some of the steps to take to ensure your child transitions into school life seamlessly.  

Start with the Simple Things

A child’s development and temperament is greatly affected when they do not get enough sleep, food, or playtime. All these factors help in nourishing the body and mind, thus making your child more relaxed. 

Ensure that your child eats well and gets a good night’s sleep every school night. This will make them less irritable and more likely to listen to you. 

Do Not Dismiss your Child’s Worries

How do you react when your daughter refuses to go back to school, simply because her friends refused to play with her the previous week? Well, as a parent, you may not take the claims seriously. 

However, your child does not have as much life experience as you. To her, it may seem like the end of the world. Rather than dismiss any worries your child may have, listen and show them you understand, then give them a broader perspective. 

You will be surprised at how reasonable your child is with the right approach. This will also strengthen your bond, and it will be easier for them to come to you with future issues.

Come up with a Lasting Solution 

Once your child displays any anxiety towards school, do not approach it as a one-off situation. For most parents, the priority is getting their kids off to school for the day so that they can attend to other duties. 

However, if you notice any abnormal behavioral changes in your child, you should strive to look into the cause of the problem, and engage your child in creating a lasting solution. This helps to prevent such occurrences in the future. 

Essentially, you should talk with your child and develop a coping mechanism together. You should also discuss other hypothetical situations and help your child see the best ways to handle them.

Be Mindful

Young children learn through observation and mimicking. Your reaction the moment you drop your child off at school is very crucial. For instance, if you seem worried, your child may get the impression that school may not be a good place. You should therefore show excitement for their new chapter, and say your goodbye cheerfully.  

Take Away:

When it comes to dealing with back to school anxieties, patience and empathy are the secret ingredients. Rather than approach your child from a position of authority, level with them, be a friend, and they will be more likely to take your advice positively. 

Helping Your Teen With Anxiety About School

Is your child going back to school or are they already back?

For students, returning to the school year can bring a bunch of mixed emotions. No matter what age you are, it can be difficult to transition from either never going before to school or from the habits of summer vacation over to the school year.

Teens and even younger students may feel worried that they don't know anyone in their class or that

they won't have friends. Perhaps shifting into a year with more responsibility and tougher courses might be intimidating.

While for some kindergarten and preschool can be the most stressful first days of school, other teens find that going back to high school can involve a fair amount of pressure and feelings of anxiety.

Is your child anxious about going back to school? For teens especially, starting a new year can be tough. They have all new classes and all new teachers with different combinations of students with them than they had before.

They may also have worries about what the first day might be like. Perhaps they won't fit in because of their outfit, or they'll be made fun of. Maybe they've been having poor sleep wondering what the year will be like. Fear of the unknown is a really big thing and it is totally natural to have a sense of anticipation or think about what the experience might be like.

They may be concerned that they won't feel comfortable in their classes. Some teens may have anxieties about getting lost or navigating the school. Still others may worry that no one likes them or their grades might be poor right off of the bat. Maybe they don't like school all that much and they are worried that this year will be worse for them.

Talking with your child may help them. Not all teens want to 'talk about it', however! You may be able to sense whether they are stressed out about fitting in or whether they feel unprepared for the school year. Ask them if there is anything that they need for school materials or wardrobe-- maybe feeling like they are more prepared for the school year will help put them at ease.

You can also attend orientation and explore the school early and get the schedule ahead of time. Letting your child know that it's okay to be nervous and that they just have to be themselves is important. Don't place any undue pressure on them or make them feel more anxious by telling them about stories from back in your day!

High school can be a tough place and confusing to navigate, especially in the age of social media! Let your child know that it's important to be respectful of others and nice to your fellow students. A therapist or counselor may be able to work with your child and let them feel like they have a sounding board that isn't a parent.

Hopefully, after a little adjustment, your teen will feel happy at their school and excited about the school year. Let them know you are there for them if they need anything and check in to see how things are going. With any luck it will be a great year!