Spotting the Warning Signs of a Mental Health Problem in Your Teen

There are some alarming numbers when it comes to mental health among teens in the United States. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a mental health surveillance, and what they found is nothing short of eye-opening — 4 in 10 adolescents felt sad and hopeless and 22% of kids seriously considered suicide while 10% made the attempt.

If you have an adolescent and you're trying to figure out whether they’re just being moody or whether they have a mental health issue, you’ve come to the right place. At Child & Adolescent Health Center, our caring pediatrician Fiona Carroll, MD, understands the unique concerns and challenges that kids face as they grow and develop. We focus much of our practice on teen wellness, which includes their mental health.

Here, we take a look at the collective state of mental health among American teens and what signs you should look out for in your own adolescent that act as a warning of a developing mental health problem.

Why mental health continues to worsen among adolescents

The world of a preteen and teen is a dizzying one as their bodies continue to develop and they prepare themselves for adulthood. Under normal circumstances, emotions that swing from one extreme to the other are often part of the landscape as the hormones fly and kids try to find their place in the world. 

These days, however, this transitional period has become a lot more challenging thanks to social media, bullying, intolerance, and overstimulation. And this new environment that teens need to navigate is taking its toll on their mental health. 

Kids today are under more stress than ever as their lives are on full display thanks to the intrusion of digital media. Making matters worse, teens are inundated with increasingly unrealistic ideals and goals put forth by social media, and they can’t keep up.

Topping it off, the recent global pandemic shone a spotlight on the deteriorating mental health among kids, promoting a joint declaration in 2021 by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Children’s Hospital Association calling mental health in kids a national emergency.

Signs of poor mental health in teens

Now that we’ve set the worrisome stage for mental health among adolescents, let’s take a look at some of the signs that indicate your teen may be struggling. Much of what we discuss here is tied to anxiety or depression, which are our two biggest concerns.

Loss of interest and isolation

Teens are notorious for rolling their eyes and not wanting to involve themselves in family affairs, so determining a loss of interest can be tricky. If your teen isn’t tempted by activities they used to enjoy and they’re choosing to spend time alone instead of with friends, this is a potentially worrisome sign.

Trouble focusing

If your normally bright adolescent is struggling to focus and concentrate and their grades are plummeting as a result, this is a red flag.

Changes in patterns

You should also be on the lookout for changes in your teen’s normal patterns, such as sleeping more and eating less (or more). You know your child best, so also look for big deviations, such as suddenly changing their group of friends or how they look.

Disproportionate anger

If your teen is prone to angry outbursts that seem out of proportion to the situation, this could indicate a deeper mental health issue.

Shutting down

Teens with depression or anxiety sometimes shut down and refuse to talk about their struggles.

Signs of self-harm

In extreme cases, teens can practice self-harm, such as cutting or burning themselves.

Support for your teen’s wellness

If you suspect your child is struggling with mental health challenges, come in to see us for an evaluation. Dr. Carroll performs developmental and behavioral health screenings for teens to identify any issues that could affect their wellness and to help develop a treatment plan.

To get started, please contact Child & Adolescent Health Center at our office in Lathrup Village, Michigan. With early intervention, we can help your teen become a healthy and happy kid again.