{"id":20906,"date":"2021-03-02T09:30:50","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T14:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=20906"},"modified":"2022-03-01T12:52:12","modified_gmt":"2022-03-01T17:52:12","slug":"teen-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/teen-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"A guide to teen mental health for parents and caregivers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Teen mental health statistics<\/a> | Mental health and COVID<\/a> | Symptoms<\/a> | Teen mental health resources<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

As many as<\/span> 1 in 5<\/span><\/a> teens are affected by a mental health disorder. The goal of World Teen Mental Wellness Day, observed on March 2, is to bolster awareness of and remove stigmas around adolescent mental health issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adolescents can be particularly vulnerable to social exclusion, discrimination, stigma, or educational difficulties\u2014many of which have been heightened during the pandemic. Undetected or untreated, mental health conditions in teens can limit future opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults, says<\/span> Jon Stevens<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>MD, MPH, the chief of outpatient services at Menninger Clinic in Houston, Texas. But knowing the potential warning signs of a mental health problem as well as some treatment options can help prevent issues from lingering into adulthood.<\/span><\/p>\n

Teen mental health statistics<\/h2>\n

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, instances of teen mental health issues have been on the rise. Most alarmingly, suicidal thoughts or attempts among teens rose <\/span>63.3%<\/span><\/a> between 2005 and 2018. Dr. Stevens notes that this unacceptably high rate of teen suicide, depending on the year, varies between the second and third leading cause of death in 15- to 19-year-olds. \u201cClinical or major depression is one of the main risk factors for suicide and affects approximately 10% of teens in a given year,\u201d he adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anxiety in adolescent girls tends to be<\/span> more common<\/span><\/a> than in adolescent boys, with 38% of adolescent females experiencing an anxiety disorder compared with 26% of adolescent males. As with anxiety, the prevalence of teen depression is higher among girls (20%) compared to boys (6.8%). However, anxiety and depression are not the only clinical diagnoses associated with suicide. It also occurs with people experiencing symptoms associated with psychotic disorders, other mood disorders like bipolar disorder or other personality disorders.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oftentimes, people experience more than one mental or mood disorder at a time. For example, people with <\/span>attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)<\/span><\/a> are more likely to also have an anxiety disorder. Additionally, the <\/span>majority of people hospitalized for an eating disorder<\/span><\/a>, like anorexia or bulimia, have comorbidities like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>More mental health statistics<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

COVID-19 and mental health in teens<\/h2>\n

While many Americans\u2019 emotional health has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the most concerning increase in risk is among young adults. \u201cWhile 11% of respondents to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey had \u201cseriously considered\u201d suicide in the past month, that same figure jumps to<\/span> 25%<\/span><\/a> for people aged 18-24, which is deeply concerning,\u201d says<\/span> Dian Grier<\/span><\/a>, LCSW, clinical therapist with Choosing Therapy.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the reasons for this increase may be social distancing. \u201cTeenagers and young adults are social by nature and learning to find their own identity within their peer group, which offers development skills that cannot be found in isolation,\u201d says Grier. She adds that no amount of screen-time can make up for these desperately needed face-to-face human interactions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Further, we\u2019re facing a never-ending stream of coverage on pandemic statistics, government responses, political quarrels, and volatility in the financial markets\u2014all of which can induce stress. \u201cWe rarely include our teenage population and how they are coping with numerous disruptions to their lives, including abrupt school closures, movement to remote learning, restrictions on leaving their homes and the inability to physically gather with friends into the discussion,\u201d Dr. Stevens says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditional sources of support, including peers, teachers, and counselors, may not be as available to identify signs of anxiety and depression in others while remote, hybrid, or wearing masks at school. That means expressions of distress could potentially go unattended. Inequities often widen as a result of disasters such as the pandemic. \u201cMinority youth already have less access to mental health care when compared to their white counterparts,\u201d says <\/span>Justine Larson<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>MD, medical director of schools and residential treatment at Sheppard Pratt in Maryland. \u201cAnd LBGTQ youth\u2014who are already at higher risk for depression and anxiety\u2014may feel even more isolated during the pandemic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Often, the challenges created by the pandemic don\u2019t align with the developmental needs of teenagers, says Stevens. Some of those instances that can lead to mental disorders in teens include:<\/span><\/p>\n