Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions in Teenagers

MISSION PREP

Good mental health is vital for everyone, without a shadow of a doubt. But achieving it can take on a new level of complexity during the teenage years. Adolescence is a unique period of rapid transition, making teens uniquely vulnerable to mental health struggles.

In fact, research suggests around 20% of adolescents experience a mental health problem, with depression and anxiety being the most common.

From academic pressures and social relationships to navigating their identity in a fast-paced world, there’s a variety of stressors that can contribute to mental health disorders in teenagers. Plus, the stigma surrounding mental health problems means many choose to remain silent.

The good news? Understanding teen mental illness and providing early recognition and support can make a huge difference. By encouraging open conversations and normalizing help-seeking, we can empower teens to reach out and take charge of their mental well-being.

Common Mental Health Disorders in Teens

As mentioned, teens are uniquely vulnerable to mental health challenges. The following is an overview of some of the most common types of mental health problems in youth:

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is a highly common disorder among today’s teens. It’s predicted that nearly 1 in 3 adolescents aged 13 to 18 experience an anxiety disorder. The 3 most common adolescent anxiety disorders seen by primary care providers are:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Excessive worry about every situation – more than the situation appears to call for. Symptoms include persistent feelings of dread, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle aches or tension, and difficulty sleeping.
Separation Anxiety: An intense fear of being away from home or caregivers. Physical symptoms include nausea, stomachaches, and even panic attacks when separation is anticipated or occurs.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): Intense fears of being judged or humiliated in social environments. Physical symptoms include sweating, blushing, nausea, and rapid heart rate during social situations. People with social anxiety disorder often report severe fear and self-consciousness about speaking in groups.

Panic disorder (PD) can also occur in teens and involves repeated panic attacks characterized by shortness of breath and chest pains which can feel like the symptoms of a heart attack.

Mood Disorders (Depression, Bipolar Disorder)

Mood disorders in teens can turn everyday emotions into overwhelming experiences. The most common types are:

Major Depression: Persistent and intense low mood, along with other signs such as difficulty sleeping, for at least two weeks. Teens with major depression often show a loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities.
Bipolar Disorder: Severe fluctuations in mood, referred to as hypomanic/manic and depressive episodes. Bipolar disorder is categorized into bipolar I and bipolar II, which you can read more about here.

Females can also experience premenstrual dysmorphic disorder (PDD), which causes depressive symptoms and grouchiness before menstruation.

ADHD and Behavioral Disorders

ADHD and behavioral disorders in teens often manifest as impulsivity along with difficulties with focus and organization.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting emotions, behavior, and attention. It’s more common in children and teens but can persist into adulthood. There are 3 subtypes, which you can read more about here.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a behavioral disorder in which teens display patterns of defiance, anger, or hostility toward authority. They may struggle to follow rules and lose their temper easily, leading to conflicts at home, school, and in social situations.

Trauma and PTSD in Youth

Trauma-related conditions can develop in teens who experience abuse, loss, violence, or other life-altering events. These conditions can be all-consuming, making it difficult to feel safe or function in daily life.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as abuse, violence, or a natural disaster. It involves symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and heightened anxiety or emotional numbness.

Residential treatment settings for people who’ve experienced trauma provide a structured, supportive environment that is conducive to healing. With 24/7 care, trauma-focused therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and access to support, these programs aim to provide the tools teens need to move toward a brighter future.

Eating Disorders

Between 2018 and 2022, health visits in the US related to eating disorders more than doubled among people under the age of 17 – and visits overall among this age group increased by a disturbing 107.4%.

Eating disorders can stem from intense pressure to achieve unrealistic body standards, leaving teens feeling trapped in unhealthy behaviors around food and self-image. The most common eating disorders in teens are:

Anorexia nervosa (AN), characterized by extreme food restriction and an intense fear of gaining weight, often leading to severe weight loss – although not necessarily (crucially, it’s possible to have AN without being deemed medically underweight).
Bulimia nervosa (BN), involving a cycle of binge eating followed by purging behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain.
Binge-eating disorder, involving recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food (without purging behaviors), usually accompanied by feeling out of control, guilt, or shame.

Eating disorders harm both the body and the mind, causing severe health complications if left untreated.

Psychotic Disorders

Psychotic disorders, like early-onset schizophrenia, can cause symptoms such as delusions (believing things that are false despite contrary evidence), hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or smelling things that aren’t there), and disorganized thinking. This makes it difficult to distinguish what’s real from what’s not.

Early treatment for psychosis is a game-changer. Timely intervention with therapy and medication can help manage symptoms and stop them from progressing, promoting long-term recovery.

Signs and Symptoms of Mental Health Issues in Teens

Spotting the signs of mental health disorders in teenagers is crucial for getting the right support in place. Although each condition may present unique signs, there are common signs of mental illness in teens to watch out for. You might even notice some of these in yourself. They include:

Marked withdrawal, like pulling away from family, friends, and activities that were once enjoyed (for example, skipping social gatherings, avoiding conversations, or spending more time alone)
Mood changes that are frequent or extreme. In particular, intense sadness, irritability, or anger may signal underlying emotional struggles.
Sleep or appetite changes can be indicators of stress linked to mental health conditions like anxiety or depression.
Risky behaviors like experimenting with drugs or alcohol, or skipping school.

These symptoms don’t just affect how teens feel – they can disrupt every part of their lives. Mood changes and difficulty concentrating can lead to failing tests and stress at school.

Plus, withdrawal can strain friendships and family relationships. When left unchecked, these challenges can cause a cycle that adversely impacts their future. For this reason, timely support is essential.

Common Causes and Risk Factors for Teen Mental Health Disorders

Understanding the causes of teen mental health symptoms is key to supporting well-being. Mental health challenges in teens often stem from a combination of biological, environmental, and social factors. Here are some common risk factors:

Genetic Predisposition: A family history of mental health conditions can increase a teen’s likelihood of experiencing similar issues, particularly for conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Family Dynamics: Unstable home environments or parental conflict can contribute to emotional distress in teens – sometimes causing mental health conditions to develop.
Peer Pressure: Social expectations and pressure to fit in can lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, and risky behaviors.
Trauma: Experiences of abuse, violence, or significant loss can lead to conditions like PTSD or depression.
Social Media: Excessive social media use can intensify feelings of inadequacy, comparison, and cyberbullying, negatively impacting teens’ self-esteem and mental health.
Academic Stress: High expectations to excel in school can cause overwhelm, leading to chronic stress, burnout, and feelings of inadequacy.

When risk factors overlap – for example, if a teen with a genetic predisposition faces trauma and academic pressure – vulnerability to mental health disorders multiplies. It may be important to keep this in mind.

Diagnosing Mental Health Conditions in Teens

The first step to an accurate diagnosis of any condition is consulting a healthcare professional. After contact is initiated, you’ll likely be invited to complete a mental health evaluation, which will be used to rule out other health problems.

A professional diagnosis is crucial to distinguish between conditions that present similar symptoms – like anxiety and depression. Additionally, some conditions (for instance, thyroid issues) can mimic or worsen mental health symptoms. Therefore, a medical evaluation is also usually part of the diagnosis process.

Clinicians typically use a combination of clinical interviews, questionnaires, and behavioral assessments to diagnose mental health conditions. Family may also be interviewed to gain an overall understanding of the teen’s environment and how it’s impacting them.

An accurate mental health diagnosis can be transformative. A diagnosis isn’t just a label – it’s a pathway to understanding and a shift from blame to compassion. In this way, diagnosis can be the first step towards a brighter future.

Residential and Inpatient Treatment Options for Teens

Sometimes, mental health challenges go beyond what can be handled at home. Residential treatment for teens offers structured support and specialized therapies to aid recovery and ease distress.

Residential Treatment Programs provide a safe, structured environment with 24/7 care where teens can receive personalized therapy. By temporarily removing teens from daily stressors and immersing them in supportive settings, these programs often foster a sense of community and are geared towards lasting improvements.

Inpatient Mental Health Care is designed for short-term stabilization during mental health crises, such as suicidal ideation or psychosis. In these hospital-based settings, teens receive 24/7 medical and therapeutic support to help manage distress. Once stabilized, they are supported during the transition to outpatient or residential care for continued recovery.

Specialized Youth Therapies. Both residential and inpatient programs provide evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). These therapy options for young adults can be highly effective for stabilizing symptoms, teaching coping mechanisms, and addressing underlying struggles – providing teens with the tools for achieving long-term resilience.

When to Seek Help for Teen Mental Health Problems

If you’ve read this far and recognize yourself or your child in some of the signs we’ve described, don’t wait to seek confidential support. It’s especially important to reach out if you or your loved one is finding it hard to manage daily responsibilities or if relationships are feeling strained. Remember, it’s never too late to take that first step toward help.

Signs that it could be beneficial to contact a healthcare provider include:

Thoughts of self-harm
Severe academic or social issues, such as a change in school performance, or withdrawal from social relationships
Mental health symptoms that have worsened over time

For more complex or severe difficulties, our residential centers and inpatient programs offer structured support in a calm, peaceful environment conducive to healing. Alternatively, our outpatient programs permit ongoing care without disrupting you or your child’s routine.

Stigma can be a barrier to seeking help, but reaching out is both brave and important. You also don’t have to go on this journey alone. At Mission Prep, our team is here for you. Contact us today at 866-619-7530.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. (n.d.). Anxiety disorders. HealthyChildren.org. Retrieved November 27, 2024, from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Anxiety-Disorders.aspx

Cherney, K. (2019, March 8). Bipolar 1 vs. bipolar 2: What’s the difference? Healthline. Retrieved November 27, 2024, from https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/bipolar-1-vs-bipolar-2

Cherney, K. (2019, March 8). The three types of ADHD: What you need to know. Healthline. Retrieved November 27, 2024, from https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/three-types-adhd

Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K. R., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. World Psychiatry, 6(3), 168–176.

Pastore, M., Indrio, F., Bali, D., Vural, M., Giardino, I., & Pettoello-Mantovani, M. (2023). Alarming increase of eating disorders in children and adolescents. The Journal of Pediatrics, 263.

Wang, S., Xing, X., & Zhang, X. (2020). Global prevalence of anxiety among children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 15(4), e0232007.