In the past couple of decades, there has been an increase in mental health disorders among teens. The most common mental illnesses in teens nowadays are anxiety disorder, mood disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and behaviour disorder. Sometimes, these disorders can even be the cause of suicide among teens.
Symptoms of mood disorders in teens
When teens have anxiety issues, they are usually irritable, they get angry easily, you can see that they withdraw from their friends or peer group, and they have difficulty concentrating on a particular task, especially their studies. Physical symptoms include unexplained headaches, stomach aches, and body pains. When they have mood disorders, they usually feel sad, helpless, and do not see much hope for the future. There could be a feeling of guilt. Teens with ADHD are usually very fidgety; they cannot sit long in one place, and they would like to move around. There could be excessive talking, interrupting a conversation, or leaving in the middle of a conversation. Teens with mood disorders usually have low self-esteem, have feelings of extreme guilt, and are not too keen on playing with friends. In general, teens with mental health disorders do not perform well academically. They do not usually have many friends. They have health issues like unexplained aches and pain. They could be either oversleeping or not sleeping well. Even though they may not be eating properly.
What should parents do?
It is very important for parents to look out for the above symptoms in their teens. Some parents may feel that my teen is ‘different’ from others. Yes, not every child is the same, but if you find your child different from others, check for the symptoms. It would be very helpful to get the appropriate treatment where the teens show such symptoms. Once any of the symptoms are observed, it is important to check with the general physician first. The general physician will first check for physical issues, if any. He may refer him to a mental health professional for further treatment. Usually, mental health issues take time to treat. The treatment could include counselling, medication, or both. It is very important to follow the advice of mental health professionals and go for regular follow-ups.
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