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Coping Strategies for Families Supporting Teens with Severe Mental Health Conditions

Author:
Jemma Strain
Jemma Strain
B.S. Psychology
Editor:
Emma Loker
Emma Loker
B.S.
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Parenting a teen with mental illness can feel like navigating an overgrown maze. You might feel lost, unsure of the right direction to take, and doubt that the end will ever be in sight. You might even feel guilty that you’re failing them or not doing enough. These feelings are all normal. 

Mental health conditions don’t just affect the people with them – they can impact the entire family unit. It’s a ripple effect that can touch parents, siblings, grandparents, and other extended family members – creating worry, tension, loss, stress, and uncertainty.1 This makes coping strategies for families of struggling teens necessary for supporting the well-being of everyone involved in a teen’s life. 

When your teen’s mental health affects the family, support from a mental health professional can be like a light in the dark. This article can also help by covering: 

  • How a child’s severe mental health condition can affect the family
  • Coping strategies for families of struggling teens
  • How to look after your own mental health when coping with a child’s mental health issues
  • Supporting siblings of teens with mental health conditions
  • Finding professional support for families
  • Where to find support
Coping Strategies for Families Supporting Teens with Severe Mental Health Conditions

How Does Parenting a Teen With Mental Illness Impact Families?

Severe mental health conditions include major depression, severe anxiety, psychosis, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and any other issue that impacts a teen’s quality of life. Each of these conditions can affect how a teenager thinks, feels, and acts, causing a variety of problems for their performance, relationships, and future. 

But it’s not just the teen with the mental health condition who is impacted. Studies show that caring for a loved one with mental illness can take a toll on employment, income, and emotional well-being. What’s more, managing stress as a caregiver can also worsen physical health and lead to higher medical bills.1,2 

The reasons why parenting a teen with mental illness creates such a toll can boil down to a variety of factors. One of these factors is that parents may blame themselves for their child becoming ill, for instance, if they think they passed down genes for the condition. Other factors include fear of stigma and being judged, or worries about how they’ll pay for treatment. 

Finally, shifts in a teen’s mood and behaviors can be distressing to watch. Day-to-day family life may no longer look like it used to. Perhaps family events such as evening dinners become something to worry about, or you simply dread what a new day will bring. You may also deeply want your child to be back to the person they used to be. 

Clearly, parenting a teen with mental illness takes a heavy toll on the entire family. But there is hope: Mental health conditions, including severe ones, are treatable. You don’t have to deal with your child’s issues by yourself; a mental health professional can guide you through the right steps to take. We also discuss coping strategies for families of struggling teens next.

Coping Strategies for Families of Struggling Teens

Supporting a child with severe depression, anxiety, psychosis, or any other medical condition can be overwhelming. It’s normal to feel upset, overwhelmed, or angered by a family member’s behaviors. Yet, severe mental illness is no more a choice than a physical health concern – the condition is no one’s fault. 

When your teen’s mental health can affect the family, it can help to know that there are a variety of coping strategies for families of struggling teens. A mental health professional can advise the family on different ways to cope, but the following tips can also help. 

1. Learn About Your Child’s Condition

It’s easy to become frustrated when we feel in the dark and struggle for insight into why someone is acting the way they are. Understanding your child’s mental health condition can open a window into what they might be going through. Educational resources, such as those provided by the National Institute of Mental Health, give accurate, evidence-based information about mental health conditions. It’s important to seek reliable sources when trying to educate yourself – inaccurate information can contribute to stigma.

Family support groups and professional mental health support also provide inviting, empathic information for family members wishing to learn about a loved one’s condition. 

2. Show Empathy for What They’re Going Through

Teens with mental health conditions might feel highly guilty for how their actions are affecting the entire family, which can cause them to believe they don’t deserve treatment. Showing appreciation for their struggles can boost their self-worth and sense of self, potentially leading to a reduction of symptoms and more of a willingness to seek help.3 

3. Be Involved in Their Treatment

Being actively involved in your child’s mental health not only increases the chance that they’ll be willing to accept therapy, but it can also improve the outcomes of treatment. Family engagement can also boost the family bond, helping a teen feel supported every step of the way.4

You could help your teen in practical ways, such as by booking appointments, driving them to therapy, or organizing their meds. Family therapy for teen mental health support is also an option, as it can increase awareness of your child’s needs and how the family can help. 

4. Plan Ahead

Your child may not experience a mental health crisis as a result of their condition, but they may have an increased risk. In the past ten years, the rates of suicide attempts in teens aged between 12 and 17 have almost doubled, so crisis management tips for parents are important. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline is available 24/7 to help. If you suspect your teen is in immediate danger, 911 is the best option. In the meantime, you can plan ahead by creating a list of contacts, such as for a doctor or therapist. You could also have soothing strategies in place, such as a calming playlist, a weighted blanket, or sensory items. 

Emotional Resilience for Families: Looking After Your Own Well-Being

Self-care for parents of teens in crisis is just as important as looking after the needs of your loved one. After all, you can’t help your child to the best of your ability if your own mental health starts to slip. You might feel guilty, stretched too thin, or grieve for the loss of who your child was while still loving them for who they are now. While these are all normal emotions, they’re also complex and can snowball. The following emotional resilience for families tips can help you cope.5

Problem-Solve as a Unit

A problem shared is a problem halved. While the biggest responsibility for decision-making falls on you as a parent, talking over problems with the whole family can help you all come to a proactive decision. For instance, you could discuss how to talk to your teen about their diagnosis with siblings and grandparents. Also, including your child in decisions about their care and treatment can allow you to better understand what they need. 

Name Your Emotions

A lack of understanding of our own feelings can create internal conflict and overwhelm, so taking a moment to label what you feel can help you build awareness and better ways of coping. After all, we can’t heal what we don’t feel. Each day, when you notice feelings of tension or distress, pause for a moment and try to put a label on your emotion. An emotions wheel is a useful tool for this practice.6 This is also a great exercise for the entire family. 

Find Support

You may be a parent, but you’re also a person with social needs of your own. When a family member is struggling, withdrawing from friends is a common reaction. You might think they won’t understand or that they’ll judge you as a parent. Yet you might be surprised by how much they’ll be able to appreciate what you’re going through. However, you don’t have to talk about what’s going on. Taking a break from stress by going for a coffee, a walk, or lunch can remind you of who you are outside of the family unit. Family support groups are also excellent social resources. 

Know Your Limits

While you want the best for your child, you may have to accept the fact that you can’t “fix” them. Severe mental illness is best handled by medical and mental health professionals. You can still support your child without enabling their behaviors, but it might require taking a step back from trying to cure their issues. Boundaries are important for both your mental health and that of your child, so don’t be afraid to know your limits.7

While it’s good to know the “dos” and “don’ts” of what to say during a mental health crisis, it’s also important to be aware of the type of language we use. We discuss language to avoid in a mental health crisis next. 

Sibling Support for Mentally Ill Teens

It can be tough to juggle the needs of a child with mental health conditions and those of the wider family. If your child has brothers or sisters, they may also be feeling lost or in turmoil as a result of witnessing changes in their family dynamic. Change, in any form, can be scary – and siblings may not know what to expect or how to support their loved one. 

Unfortunately, siblings of children with mental health conditions may be more at risk of developing mental health issues. However, it’s possible to reduce this risk by helping them understand more about their sibling’s problems and treatment.8 

You can help your other children by:

  • Explaining what their sibling’s diagnosis is and how it affects their thoughts, feelings, and actions
  • Telling them how treatment can help their sibling recover
  • Giving them the option of being involved in their sibling’s treatment 

Family therapy for teen mental health support can help every member of the family understand and heal. Mission Prep can talk you through the right options for you and your family. 

Professional Support for Families: Navigating Adolescent Psychiatric Care

Managing stress as a caregiver can be difficult at the best of times, let alone when someone you love is struggling. Parents of a child with a severe mental illness carry a heavy emotional weight. They’re trying to juggle the needs of their child with those of the wider family, financial responsibilities, and their own mental health. Mission Prep understands that the needs of the entire family matter when it comes to mental health treatment.

We offer a range of support groups for family members of teens with mental health conditions, including on what to expect during treatment and how to be involved in the process. Also, we’re more than happy to talk to you and your child about the most appropriate therapy options for their needs. 

Therapy Options for Severe Mental Health Conditions in Teens:

Teens with severe mental health conditions may benefit from residential treatment and intensive outpatient treatment. The following therapy options can be built into a treatment package depending on your child’s and family’s needs. 

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is routinely offered in treatment for teens as it has been proven to improve the symptoms of a range of severe mental health conditions. A therapist uses CBT techniques to target teens’ thoughts and actions, identify negative patterns, and help teens build healthy ways of coping. 
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): Research has shown that mental health conditions can stem from negative previous experiences, such as trauma. EMDR is used to treat trauma, change how it is stored in the brain, and help a teen move past negative experiences and form more positive beliefs.
  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation: TMS can be used to treat mental health conditions that have previously resisted treatment. It’s a non-invasive therapy that uses magnetic fields to activate nerve cells in targeted areas of the brain – improving outlook and mood. 
  • Family therapy for teen mental health support: Family involvement in therapy can improve a teen’s symptoms, especially if there are relationship dynamics that are contributing to mental health difficulties. For instance, interpersonal therapy can highlight issues in relationships, help teens and families work through them, and figure out better ways of coping. 
Coping Strategies for Families Supporting Teens with Severe Mental Health Conditions

Reach Out for Help With Supporting a Teen With a Severe Mental Health Condition

Mission Prep understands that family-focused care should be at the core of every treatment plan for teens with severe mental health conditions. 

Our team offers residential care in California and Virginia, but we can also provide flexible outpatient services in the form of telehealth therapy – relieving the burden of intense schedules. The Mission Prep team can help you and your family understand the root causes of mental health issues, strengthen your relationships, and help you continue healing. You don’t have to cope with serious mental health issues by yourself. 

It’s difficult to cope with a mental health issue, but it can be equally difficult to watch your child go through it. If you’re ready to take the next step in seeking support or just have questions to ask, Mission Prep can help. Reaching out to our team for help means that your family can start recovering as soon as possible. 

References

  1. Fekadu, W., Mihiretu, A., J Craig, T. K., & Fekadu, A. (2019). Multidimensional impact of severe mental illness on family members: Systematic review. BMJ Open, 9(12), e032391. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032391
  2. American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Serious mental illness. Retrieved April 25, 2025, from https://www.apa.org/topics/mental-health/serious-mental-illness
  3. Kusumawaty, I., Surahmat, R., Martini, S., & Muliyadi, N. (2021). Family support for members in taking care of mental disordered patients. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research/Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.210415.026
  4. Berry, K. R., Gliske, K., Schmidt, C., Ballard, J., Killian, M., & Fenkel, C. (2023). The Impact of Family Therapy Participation on Youths and Young Adult Engagement and Retention in a Telehealth Intensive Outpatient Program: Quality Improvement Analysis. JMIR Formative Research, 7, e45305. https://doi.org/10.2196/45305
  5. Pompeo, D. A., De Carvalho, A., Olive, A. M., Da Graça Girade Souza, M., & Galera, S. a. F. (2016). Strategies for coping with family members of patients with mental disorders. Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 24(0). https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.1311.2799
  6. Moran, D. J. (2024, November 26). The emotion wheel. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/commit/202411/the-emotion-wheel
  7. Chernata, T. (2024). Personal boundaries: definition, role, and impact on mental health. Personality and Environmental Issues, 3(1), 24–30. https://doi.org/10.31652/2786-6033-2024-3(1)-24-30
  8. McKenzie Smith, M., Pinto Pereira, S., Chan, L., et al. (2018). Impact of well-being interventions for siblings of children and young people with a chronic physical or mental health condition: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 21(2), 246–265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-018-0253-x

 

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