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7 Things Parents Need to Know About Teen Disorders and Mental Health

Family discussing mental disorders in teens

Today’s adolescents are forced to cope with the pressures of social media and a global pandemic on top of typical teen concerns. As a result, they may be struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

Imagine Boise offers personalized treatment programs designed especially for helping teens who have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. To learn more about what our qualified and caring team can do for your teen, call Imagine Boise today at 888.597.2807.

Parents Need to Know The Facts About Teen Mental Disorders 

Recognizing a teen disorder can be especially difficult because the teenage years are a time of significant emotional, psychological and physical changes. Many teens go through periods of moodiness and irritability. It’s not always easy to distinguish which changes are due to normal development and which may be early warning signs of a mental health problem.

However, there are some key signs you can watch out for, and it is essential to understand the importance of addressing mental health disorders. We can prepare appropriately to help them if and when the time comes.

1. Know the Signs of Mental Health Disorders

Some of the general warning signs of mental health disorders in teens include:

  • Changes in eating or sleeping habits
  • Frequent irritability or mood swings
  • Isolation from friends or family members
  • Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed
  • Difficulty concentrating or focusing
  • Decline in academic performance or loss of interest in school

If your teen is showing these warning signs, it is essential to speak with a mental health professional about the best way to help them.

2. The Present Affects the Future

There are some things your teen will grow out of, but mental illness isn’t necessarily one of them. Doing all you can to protect your child’s mental health now will help them be happy, healthy adults in the future. Without appropriate treatment, the symptoms of mental health disorders in teens can become more severe in adulthood.

3. Teen Suicide Is on the Rise

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among teens. When addressing mental health disorders, teens at the most risk for suicide include those who have:

  • Family history of mood disorders or suicidal behavior
  • Substance use disorders
  • History of sexual or physical abuse
  • Prior exposure to violence such as domestic or environmental
  • Chronic illness
  • Access to firearms, medications, or other means

Teens who identify as LGBTQ+ or are experiencing grief and teens who attempted suicide before are at increased risk.

4. Social Media Has Real Impact on Teen Mental Health Disorders

The more teens use social media, the greater their risk of being negatively affected by it. Too much social media use can result in sleep disruption, unrealistic ideas about other people’s lives, and being victimized by bullies or rumors.

5. Some Teen Disorders Are More Common Than Others

Teens are at risk for all mental health disorders, but some are more common than others. The most common mental health disorders diagnosed in teens are:

  • Anxiety disorders
  • Depression
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Eating disorders
  • Substance use disorders

6. Stress Contributes to Mental Disorders

Teens face immense pressure to fit in with social groups, excel at sports, and keep up their academic performance. They often feel isolated and may struggle in silence with learning differences, poor self-esteem, or the effects of family dysfunction.

7. Early Action Makes a Lasting Difference

Mental health disorders in teens do not have to define them for the rest of their lives. Early diagnosis and treatment can change a child’s future. Finding age-appropriate treatment for your child today could prevent years of struggle and personal conflict in the future.

Imagine Boise Offers Treatment for Mental Health Disorders in Teens

Imagine Boise provides evidence-based programming designed to help teens struggling with mental health disorders and behavioral issues. Call our experienced staff at Imagine Boise today at 888.597.2807 if your teen shows signs of a mental health disorder.