today we will talk about 5 Most common mental health issues among the teen, which affecting teens life. Adolescence and early adulthood are frequently associated with “easier” times. It’s simple for parents to assume that their teenagers are carefree, enjoying life, and having no worries whatsoever. This is regrettably not always the case. Teenagers are experiencing an increase in the prevalence of mental health illnesses, and COVID-19 has helped to fuel these trends. In fact, there was a 31 percent increase in mental health cases among 12- to 17-year-olds in the first eight months of the pandemic.
The majority of mental health issues, or 75% of cases, start before the age of 24, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. However, by the time a child reaches the age of 14, at least half of mental diseases have already developed. Knowing about potential mental health concerns is crucial for parents. Understanding that you are not alone is also crucial. According to statistics, more than one in six children and adolescents (ages 6 to 17) have a mental illness each year. In order to better inform you and assist your teen, we have included some of the more prevalent mental health conditions that affect adolescents and young adults.
Table of Contents
5 Most common mental health issues among the teen
Anxeity
The most common mental health condition affecting adolescents nowadays is anxiety disorders. According to the World Health Organization, 5% of 15–19 year olds and 4% of 10–14 year olds, respectively, suffer from an anxiety disorder. Before the age of 21, the majority of people have anxiety disorder symptoms.
Anxiety disorders disrupt daily functioning and go beyond isolated emotions of anxiety. They are characterised by extreme dread or worry in non-threatening situations that persists over time. Anxiety in teenagers may manifest as:
- Feelings of fear or trepidation that persist
- Restlessness and irritability
- Anticipation of the worst possible outcomes
- Racing heartbeat and shortness of breath
- stomach ache and fatigue
- Insomnia or frequent trouble sleeping
- feeling anxious or jittery
If you believe your teen is developing an anxiety illness, it’s crucial to schedule a consultation with your physician because there are various forms of anxiety disorders. Phobias, panic attacks, social anxiety, and generalised anxiety disorders are examples of anxiety disorders. It is advised to seek expert treatment for any of the aforementioned conditions, especially in teenagers. Because teenagers’ brains are still developing, it’s critical to treat mental health issues as soon as they are identified.
Depression
Three percent of people aged 15 to 19 around the world experience depression, making it the second most common mental health issue among teenagers. Depression is a disorder that causes frequent, significant changes in motivation, cognitive patterns, and mood. Teenagers and young adults who are depressed frequently experience hopelessness, loneliness, and a lack of vigour or drive. Depressive symptoms frequently include:
- Changes in sleep or appetite
- Lack of concentration
- Loss of energy and motivation
- Lack of interest in activities/friendships
- Hopelessness
- Physical aches, pains, and general ailments
- Suicidal thoughts
Adolescents’ performance in general, relationships, and attendance at school can all be impacted by depression. Social withdrawal can lead to isolation and increase the symptoms of depression in teenagers, especially in recent years as a result of COVID-19. It is crucial for parents to encourage their teen see a doctor if they exhibit any signs of depression. Depression can last throughout adulthood if untreated, and it can also cause problems with substance misuse and suicidal ideation.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Adolescents frequently have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is frequently diagnosed at a young age because of how it affects behaviour and learning. ADHD is thought to affect about 9% of kids between the ages of 4 and 17. These kids could have trouble focusing, get quickly distracted, and show signs of hyperactivity and/or impulsivity.
The following are typical symptoms of ADHD in kids and teenagers:
- hopping from one thing to another
- getting easily and fast bored with a task
- difficulty paying attention to others or to a task at hand
- difficulty completing assignments
- rapid information processing challenges
- difficulty maintaining a long-term seated position
- playing with or touching everything
- acting without considering the effects
- talking a lot and cutting other people off
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are “far more common” throughout adolescence and the early 20s, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Boys and men frequently go untreated, even though girls and young women are more prone to battle with an eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are three of the more prevalent types of eating disorders. Self-starvation to decrease weight is a hallmark of anorexia.
Teens who are battling anorexia will frequently exercise until they are exhausted, deny that they are hungry, and refuse to eat. Additionally, they might engage in purging, which is a common bulimic habit. Bulimia is characterised by consuming a lot of food and then making themselves throw up to get rid of the calories. The symptoms of binge eating disorder (BED), on the other hand, include overeating in huge quantities over a short period of time, which results in feelings of shame, despair, and self-disgust. Unlike individuals who have bulimia, people with BED do not purge.
Although this varies depending on the specific disorder, eating disorders carry a risk of nutritional deficiencies, obesity, and early death since they entail irregular eating habits. For instance, anorexia nervosa has the highest fatality rate of any mental illness. Therefore, it is crucial that youth who are struggling receive early intervention.
Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
Adolescence is a time when kids are more likely to take risks, which frequently results in them attempting drugs and alcohol for the first time. But regrettably, this isn’t always an experiment or phase. Teenagers and young adults frequently acquire drug or alcohol addictions and substance use disorders. More over 4% of American teenagers reported having a substance use disorder in 2020.
Depending on the drug of choice, there are many distinct forms of substance use disorders. Other mental health illnesses’ symptoms can coexist with those of a substance use disorder. However, frequent symptoms of adolescent substance use disorders can include:
- withdrawal from friends or family
- sudden behavioural changes
- pursuing riskier activities, such as having sex, getting into fights, or drinking and driving
- building a strong resistance to drugs and alcohol
- Having withdrawal symptoms when not intoxicated or high
- feeling that they require a substance in order to perform properly
Here we talked about 5 Most common mental health issues among the teen. there are more mental health issues we need to talk and understand. It’s crucial for parents to understand that teen mental health illnesses like Depression and anxiety frequently co-occur with substance use. The term for this is co-occurring disorders. A mental illness and a substance use disorder were both present for 17 million Americans in 2020, according to estimates. A person is nearly twice as likely to develop a substance use disorder if they are dealing with a mental health disorder like depression.
