Is your teen depressed? Teen Mental Health needs Increased Focus.

Now more than ever, teen mental health needs increased focus. We know the teen years are a time of significant growth and development of the body and brain. Is your teen depressed?

As teens try to navigate these changes, many encounter difficulties. If not addressed, teens can develop debilitating mental illnesses that can have significant impacts on their physical and mental well-being well into adulthood. Now more than ever, mental health in teenagers needs to take top priority—and teen mental health statistics drive that point home.

This article will dive deeper into the surprising teen mental health statistics as well as common mental illnesses that affect teens.

As children transition into their teen years, their proverbial plates are full. Teen boys and girls undergo significant physical and mental development, and they must learn to deal with these changes.

This includes learning healthy communication skills, developing coping and problem-solving skills, as well as learning how to handle their often-volatile emotions. Adolescents that have strong support at home, school, and their community are able to navigate the tricky world of adolescence and grow to be mentally strong adults.

While strong overall support is essential, there are several factors that make teens more vulnerable to developing mental illness.

Teen depression signs and symptoms include a change from the teenager’s previous attitude and behavior that can cause significant distress and problems at school or home, in social activities, or in other areas of life.

Depression symptoms can vary in severity, but changes in your teen’s emotions and behavior may include the examples below.

Emotional changes

• Be alert for emotional changes, such as:
• Feelings of sadness, which can include crying spells for no apparent reason.
• Frustration or feelings of anger, even over small matters
• Feeling hopeless or empty
• Irritable or annoyed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
• Loss of interest in, or conflict with, family and friends
• Low self-esteem
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Fixation on past failures or exaggerated self-blame or self-criticism
• Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure, and the need for excessive reassurance
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
• Ongoing sense that life and the future are grim and bleak
• Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide

Behavioral changes

Watch for changes in behavior, such as:

• Tiredness and loss of energy
• Insomnia or sleeping too much
• Changes in appetite — decreased appetite and weight loss, or increased cravings for food and weight gain
• Use of alcohol or drugs
• Agitation or restlessness — for example, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
• Frequent complaints of unexplained body aches and headaches, which may include frequent visits to the school nurse
• Social isolation
• Poor school performance or frequent absences from school
• Less attention to personal hygiene or appearance
• Angry outbursts, disruptive or risky behavior, or other acting-out behaviors
• Self-harm — for example, cutting or burning.
• Making a suicide plan or a suicide attempt

Given the dramatically changing landscape brought on by the COVID pandemic and other factors, it is no surprise that teen mental health statistics have taken center stage. Recent CDC data shows the following regarding teen mental health in the United States:

37% of high school students reported feeling adverse mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

44% of high school students reported feeling signs of depression within the last year.

55% of high school students reported they experienced emotional abuse by a parent or other adult in the home.

11% of high school students reported physical abuse by a parent or other adult in the home.

29% of high school students reported a parent or other adult in their home lost a job during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a poll done for the National Institute on Mental Illness (NAMI):

64% of teens reported feeling the world is more stressful now than when parents were their age.

Teen girls were more likely to report feelings of anxiety than teen boys

25% of teens have been diagnosed with a mental health condition

28% of teens report having received mental health treatment

Teen boys were more likely to say they do not need treatment for their mental health

67% of teens think schools should offer days off for mental health

56% say their school thinks that mental health matters.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses found in teens with statistics showing that four percent of 10–14-year-olds and five percent of 15–19-year-olds experienced an anxiety disorder.

Depression is the second most common teen mental health disorder with an estimated 13 percent affected by this issue. Additionally, the CDC estimates nearly 7 million children aged 3-18 are diagnosed with the disorder.

However, several ways by which guardian and parents can help includes:

How to help a depressed teenager

Depression is very damaging when left untreated, so don’t wait and hope that worrisome symptoms will go away.

If you suspect that your teen is depressed, bring up your concerns in a loving, non-judgmental way. Even if you’re unsure that depression is the issue, the troublesome behaviors and emotions you’re seeing are signs of a problem that should be addressed.

Open up a dialogue by letting your teen know what specific depression symptoms you’ve noticed and why they worry you. Then ask your child to share what they’re going through—and be ready and willing to truly listen.

Hold back from asking a lot of questions (most teenagers don’t like to feel patronized or crowded) but make it clear that you’re ready and willing to provide whatever support they need.

How to communicate with a depressed teen

Focus on listening, not lecturing. Resist any urge to criticize or pass judgment once your teenager begins to talk. The important thing is that your child is communicating. You’ll do the most good by simply letting your teen know that you’re there for them, fully and unconditionally.

Be gentle but persistent. Don’t give up if they shut you out at first. Talking about depression can be very tough for teens. Even if they want to, they may have a hard time expressing what they’re feeling. Be respectful of your child’s comfort level while still emphasizing your concern and willingness to listen.

Acknowledge their feelings. Don’t try to talk your teen out of depression, even if their feelings or concerns appear silly or irrational to you. Well-meaning attempts to explain why “things aren’t that bad” will just come across as if you don’t take their emotions seriously. Simply acknowledging the pain and sadness they are experiencing can go a long way in making them feel understood and supported.

Trust your gut. If your teen claims nothing is wrong but has no explanation for what is causing the depressed behavior, you should trust your instincts. If your teen won’t open up to you, consider turning to a trusted third party: a school counselor, favorite teacher, or a mental health professional. The important thing is to get them talking to someone.

Helping a depressed teen tip:

Encourage social connection.

Depressed teens tend to withdraw from their friends and the activities they used to enjoy. But isolation only makes depression worse, so do what you can to help your teen reconnect.

Make face time a priority. Set aside time each day to talk—time when you’re focused totally on your teen, without distractions or trying to multi-task. The simple act of connecting face to face can play a big role in reducing your teen’s depression. And remember: talking about depression or your teen’s feelings will not make the situation worse, but your support can make all the difference in their recovery.

Combat social isolation. Do what you can to keep your teen connected to others. Encourage them to go out with friends or invite friends over. Participate in activities that involve other families and give your child an opportunity to meet and connect with other kids.

Try to reduce their social media use. Remind your teen that social media isn’t an ideal substitute for face-to-face interactions. Encourage them to turn off their phone—or at least disable notifications—when socializing in person, focusing on work, or preparing for bed.

Get your teen involved. Suggest activities—such as sports, after-school clubs, or an art, dance, or music class—that take advantage of your teen’s interests and talents. While your teen may lack motivation and interest at first, as they reengage with the world, they should start to feel better and regain their enthusiasm.