Why Is There A Rise In Mental Health Problems Among Teens?
More than one-fifth of adolescents (approximately 20%) will suffer from or develop a mental health disorder at some point during their lives.
Apart from depression and anxiety, mental health concerns among teenagers include conditions like trauma, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia. Additionally, behavioral issues such as substance abuse and eating disorders are also prevalent among teenagers.
Over the past few years, there has been a significant rise in mental health problems among teens. Statistics show that one out of five high school students suffer from some type of mental health problem.
Whether you are a parent, clinician, or educator looking for information, it is crucial to understand and identify the prevalent mental health challenges affecting young people today.
In this article, we are going to discuss growing mental health problems among teenagers.
What Are Teen Mental Health Problems?
Adolescence is a period in which brain structures undergo rapid change, leading to possible mental health issues for adolescents. Depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and eating disorders may arise during this time. How to deal with anxiety we recommend to look at this Sensa Review.
While certain signs of mental illness may appear normal if the teen seems dismal for an extended period or is struggling with poor motivation or sleeping issues, these can be tell-tale signs that require professional advice. When these warning signs become evident, it may be important to discuss professional support options with them.
Communication between your teen and yourself is key when discussing their emotions. Invite them to open up about any difficulties they’re having and assure them you are there for them and will provide support throughout.
General Mental Health Statistics for Teenagers
The prevalence of mental health concerns among teenagers is on the rise, and although the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to this escalation, this trend has been ongoing for several years.
Here are the general mental health statistics for teenagers.
- Approximately 20% of teenagers, i.e., 1 in 5 teens, are expected to experience a severe mental illness.
- Behavioral disorders are present among 10% of young people.
- Around 11% of youth are living with a mood disorder like depression.
- Nearly half of all mental health disorders start by the age of 14, and 75% of these disorders begin before the age of 24.
- Anxiety disorders affect around 8% of youth.
- High school dropout rates among teenagers with mental health disorders exceed one-third.
- Suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 10 to 24.
Why Is There A Rise In Mental Health Problems Among Teens?
Adolescence is both exciting and challenging for teens as their brains continue to develop rapidly. Teenagers may face many changes all at once as their lives shift dramatically before them. As life changes and challenges occur, they may lead to mental health issues that may be difficult to recognize yet often treatable.
Social Media Usage
Teenagers have taken to social media as an avenue to stay in contact with friends and family around the globe, explore current events, interact with people from various backgrounds, and gain knowledge about world issues. However, the frequent use of social media gives them access to images of individuals with flawless appearances and lives. This can create pressure for them to emulate. This pressure is directly linked to mental health issues.
Teens Are Facing More Academic Pressure
As pressure to achieve good grades increases, anxiety and depression among adolescents increase as well. Academic stress can arise from many sources, such as high-stakes exams, difficult coursework, disorganization, or parental pressure. Seeking professional assistance may be essential if your teen displays signs of mental health problems.
Mental Health Is Becoming A More Normalized
Mental health problems among teens have seen a steady increase as it is getting normalized. Today’s youth are increasingly willing to communicate about their mental health problems compared to previous years, leading to more individuals speaking up about their challenges and seeking assistance.
Substance Abuse Is Common Among Teenagers
Substance abuse among teenagers has become more widespread over time and has been shown to negatively impact mental health, social relationships, and academic performance. Such behavior may also result in legal involvement or conflicts with family and friends and decreased school performance.
Macro Stressors Concern Our Youth
Studies have demonstrated that environmental complexity, material deprivations, family income inequality, and societal violence can all pose major stressors to teens. Nowadays, young people aren’t just focused on academics or socializing with peers. They also care about significant societal challenges such as racism, inequality, gun violence, financial instability, and climate change. All these stressors can lead to mental health problems.
Common Mental Health Problems among Teenagers
Teenagers frequently struggle with various mental health disorders that interfere with living a fulfilling and satisfying life and impede relationships with others. Here are some common mental health problems faced by teenagers.
- Major Depression
- Teen Anxiety
- Eating Disorders
- Substance Use Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Teenage Schizophrenia
- Teen Trauma and PTSD
- Gaming Disorder
Conclusion
Teenagers are undergoing substantial physical and social transformations, experiencing greater pressure to conform to their peer groups, and striving to achieve independence. All these factors can also increase the risk of mental health problems like anxiety, depression, eating disorder, etc. However, teen mental health disorders are treatable. So, if your teenager is experiencing symptoms that interfere with daily activities, it’s essential they seek advice from medical professionals immediately.
