Top 5 Mental Health Issues in Teens Today

It’s never an easy ride being a teenager. But it’s especially hard right now, when there is a teen mental health crisis like we’ve never seen before. Between pressures to be the best academically, trying to live up to the photoshopped images you see on social media, plus the effects of living in a post-pandemic world, many adolescents struggle in silence. When nearly half of teens face mental health issues, the question isn’t whether teenagers are struggling – it’s what can we do to change this?¹

In this blog, we’ll delve into the mental health issues in teens, looking at why mental health issues are becoming more common for younger people. We’ll also look at the top 5 mental health issues that teens struggle with and uncover the signs to watch out for. Finally, we’ll give you some practical advice on how to help a teenager with mental health issues. Let’s get started!

Are Teens Struggling With Mental Health Issues? 

While many teens have good mental health, it’s important to know that almost half of U.S. teens have had a mental health disorder at some point.¹ Mental health in teens is just as important as their physical health, but can often be mistaken by adults for them being ‘moody,’ or ‘going through a phase.’ 

It’s important to know the difference between teenage development and signs of mental health issues. If left untreated, mental health problems can affect a teen’s ability to learn and socialize, as well as their sense of self-esteem. In some (severe) cases, untreated mental health conditions can lead to suicide.² 

Let’s take a look at some of the signs of mental health struggles below. 

Signs of Mental Health Issues in Teens

Some common signs of teen mental health issues include:³

• Low energy
• Sleep problems
• Losing interest in activities
• Eating changes, including dieting or binge eating
• Excessive exercise
• Hurting themselves 
• Use of drugs, smoking, or drinking alcohol
• Thoughts of suicide
• Seeing or hearing things other people cannot see or hear
• Headaches, stomach problems, pains

Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you or your teenager are experiencing some of these symptoms, it’s best to see your doctor to find out what resources or treatments are available to support you. 

Top 5 Mental Health Issues Facing Today’s Teens

Let’s look at five of the most common teen mental health issues. 

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are one of the biggest teen mental health issues in the U.S., affecting almost one in three teens.⁴ Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, and phobias. Anxiety is a normal part of being human, however, it becomes a problem when the worries aren’t controllable, or you feel an excessive amount of unease or are on edge. 

Depression 

In 2021, over 5 million teens experienced at least one major depressive episode.⁵ Although everyone experiences the odd ‘blue’ day occasionally, depression is more than that. It’s consistently feeling a low mood that affects how you think and how you feel and gets in the way of you carrying out normal daily tasks, like eating or sleeping. 

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects focus, attention, organization, and difficulty controlling behavior or impulsiveness. Almost one in ten teens are affected by ADHD and it can affect your ability to function on a daily basis.⁶ 

Eating Disorders 

Typically, eating disorders involve restricting your food intake, or eating excessively, for example, conditions like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. It affects almost three in a hundred teenagers, with females affected more often than males.⁷

Substance Misuse 

The teenage years can be a time when people start experimenting with substances, whether that’s alcohol, smoking, prescription, or illegal drugs. For many people, what starts out as a one-off experiment can quickly spiral out of control, whether through peer pressure or becoming addicted. It’s not always easy to tell if someone is misusing alcohol or drugs, because people often try to hide it.⁸ 

What Are Other Common Mental Health Issues in Teens?

Those we covered above aren’t the only issues that affect teenage mental health – there are many different mental health conditions out there. Here are a couple of more issues that you should be aware of:

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD isn’t a quirky thing about being neat and tidy. It’s a medical condition where you have intrusive thoughts (obsessions), and then you have to do repetitive rituals (compulsions) to help reduce the intense fear that you feel. You may see signs like excessive hand washing, checking locks on doors, or counting things out loud over and over again. 

Suicidal Ideation

According to the CDC, suicide is the third leading cause of death in young people between 10 and 19 years old, and a staggering one in seven youths has seriously considered or made a plan to take their own life.^9,10 The rates have continued to rise over recent years, especially among females and LGBQ+ students.⁹ 

Social Media Addiction 

While social media can be a great way to connect with friends, it can also be addictive. Getting those ‘likes’, comments, and shares on photos gives you a dopamine hit which keeps you coming back for more. 

When it comes to social media and teen mental health, a recent study showed that teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media may have a greater risk for other mental health problems.¹¹

Causes of Mental Illness in Youth

The causes of mental health issues in teens aren’t entirely known, just as it isn’t completely known in adults. There can be factors such as genetics, brain chemistry, trauma, neglect, and personality types that impact your mental health. There can be other elements contributing too, such as discrimination, racism, social and economic inequalities, or an unstable home life.¹² 

If you’ve watched or read the news lately, you’ll probably agree that the world can feel like a scary place, with shootings, terrorist attacks, and many other events that appear on the news. Add to the mix any academic pressures to be the best, bullying both in and out of school, and trying to live up to social media image standards, and you potentially have a saucepan of mental health factors that can bubble over, leaving anyone overwhelmed. 

How to Help a Teenager With Mental Health Issues

If your teen is struggling with their mental health, there are things that you can do to help them:

1. Check-in with them: Have open honest conversations with your teen, and make talking about mental health a regular topic of conversation. Let them know that they can talk to you about anything without worrying about you judging them, otherwise they might avoid the subject if they think you will lecture or punish them for confiding in you.¹³ Really listen to them, and let them know that you hear them. 
2. Encourage healthy habits and self-care: A varied and balanced diet can positively impact mood and well-being, exercise and movement can help with stress and anxiety, and good quality sleep is essential for mental health. 
3. Discuss social media. Now that you know excessive time on social media can impact mental health, it’s good to have that conversation with your teen, as well as talk about how social media often only shows the ideal or photoshopped version of events, rather than a person’s real life.¹⁴ 
4. Seek professional help when it’s needed: If you recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health issues, it’s best to seek professional health from adolescent mental health services so that you can help them get the support they need. Mission Prep offers premium teen mental health treatment and is committed to preparing teens for the challenges of life. 

How Mission Prep Supports Teen Mental Health

Mission Prep provides teen mental health services and support for teens and families who experience mental health struggles. We believe in treating the entire family system and helping families address the challenges of children and teens in a safe, sustainable way using therapeutic approaches and innovative interventions. 

Whether you are interested in residential treatment, outpatient treatment, or telehealth options, we provide a flexible and individualized plan to meet your needs. 

Recovering From Teen Mental Health Difficulties

If you’re a teen struggling to cope with mental health challenges, or a parent worried about your teen, know that things can improve with the right help and support. At Mission Prep, we take teen mental health treatment seriously and go beyond addressing the symptoms – we want to help them heal and recover so that they can become the best version of themselves and be prepared for whatever challenges they will face in life. 

We have treatment programs that are personalized to your teen’s needs, to support them in the best way possible. Whether they struggle with anxiety, bipolar, or another condition, we will work with you and your teen to help them recover. 

If you want to learn more, contact us today to find out how we can give you the support you need and deserve. 

References

1. National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Mental illness. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
2. McCarthy, C. (2022, March 8). The mental health crisis among children and teens: How parents can help. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-mental-health-crisis-among-children-and-teens-how-parents-can-help-202203082700
3. Office of Population Affairs. (n.d.). Mental health for adolescents. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://opa.hhs.gov/adolescent-health/mental-health-adolescents
4. National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Any anxiety disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder
5. National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Major depression. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
6. National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd
7. National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Eating disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/eating-disorders
8. BestColleges.com. (2024, June 6). Top 5 mental health challenges facing college students and how to get help. https://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/top-5-mental-health-problems-facing-college-students/
9. Verlenden, J. V., Fodeman, A., Wilkins, N., Jones, S. E., Moore, S., Cornett, K., Sims, V., Saelee, R., & Brener, N. D. (2024). Mental health and suicide risk among high school students and protective factors — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023. MMWR Supplements, 73(4), 79–86. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su7304a9
10. Bloch, M. H. (2016). Editorial: Reducing adolescent suicide. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 57(7), 773–774. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12585
11. Riehm, K. E., Feder, K. A., Tormohlen, K. N., Crum, R. M., Young, A. S., Green, K. M., Pacek, L. R., La Flair, L. N., & Mojtabai, R. (2019). Associations between time spent using social media and internalizing and externalizing problems among US youth. JAMA Psychiatry, 76(12), 1266. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.2325
12. World Health Organization. (2024, October 10). Mental health of adolescents. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health
13. HealthyChildren.org. (n.d.). Teen mental health: How to know when your child needs help. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/Mental-Health-and-Teens-Watch-for-Danger-Signs.aspx
14. Mental Health First Aid. (2023, August 31). Five ways to support your teen’s mental health. https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2023/08/five-ways-to-support-your-teens-mental-health/