Integrating Mental Health Care into Teen Parenting Programs

Published: 06/20/2025 | Updated: 06/20/2025

Authored by: Jayme Wium, Writer

Edited by: Emma Loker, BSc, PgDip

Being a teen parent comes with a unique set of challenges. The adolescent brain is still developing and will continue to do so into their mid-twenties.¹ So, the way they make decisions and see the world will undoubtedly be different for them than for the adults around them – hence why you might butt heads.

Teen pregnancies are considered “vulnerable” and the healthcare and social support systems don’t tend to be entirely well-suited for their care. Research shows that poverty, exposure to traumatic events, and inadequate social support can lead to an increased risk of a teen being vulnerable to postpartum depression.² This alone indicates a need for integrated support programs for young parents.

Integrated support programs simply mean combining multiple forms of support, such as parenting education, housing support, education services, and social services. By combining these, you form a single, streamlined service or referral system, rather than a set of fragmented or conflictual support options.

Including care for mental health in parenting programs is vital, but hasn’t been the “done” thing in the past. Routine mental health checks for teen moms can uncover early warning signs that might otherwise go unnoticed. When parenting classes include therapy access, emotional wellness tools, and psychological support for teen parents, the outcomes improve not only for the young parent but also for the child.

This guide walks through the following aspects of including mental health in parenting programs for teens:

A breakdown of mental health challenges faced by teens
Why integrated care for teen parents is important
How mental health support systems are included in teen parenting programs
Examples of how mental health and parenting education can be combined
How Mission Prep can help teens prepare for parenthood

Mental Health Challenges Faced by Pregnant Teens

Becoming a parent at any age brings challenges. But becoming a parent as a teen? This creates further disruption at a time when a person is already vulnerable to mental health difficulties.

Pregnant teens often deal with the following mental health challenges:

Depression and Postpartum Depression

Routine mental health checks for teen moms are critical, as adolescent parents face elevated risks of depression before and after birth. Research indicates that around 25-36% of mothers under 20 years old experience postpartum depression, and these rates are significantly higher than adult mothers.³

Anxiety and Chronic Stress

Teen parenting and mental support often go hand in hand. Many teen parents report high anxiety levels. This could be due to disrupted schooling, unstable housing, unpreparedness for pregnancy and parenthood, or lack of childcare. Research shows that hormonal imbalances can also increase anxiety disorders in pregnant teens.⁴

Trauma and PTSD Symptoms

Holistic care for teen moms should address trauma histories. Exposure to violence or neglect increases the risk of PTSD during pregnancy and early parenting. Research shows that a history of trauma can increase the risk of perinatal depression. Mothers who experience trauma and PTSD are more at risk of showing harmful parenting behaviors. They may also be more likely to raise children with behavior problems.⁵

Identity Disruption and Low Self-Esteem

Parenting with mental illness as a teen can bring a set of unique challenges, especially in terms of self-esteem and identity as teens try to balance their identity, both as a teen and a new parent.⁶ As such, integrated care for adolescent parents must include emotional validation and self-worth support.

Why Integrated Care for Adolescent Parents Is Important

When mental health is included in parenting programs, it creates a stronger foundation for both young caregivers and their children, helping to address psychological stress while improving long-term outcomes across generations.

Addressing Mental Health Needs by Combining Mental and Parenting Education

Mental wellness for teen caregivers deserves to be in the spotlight. Teen parents are significantly more likely to experience mental health conditions due to factors like isolation, unplanned pregnancy, and disrupted adolescence. As we covered earlier, research shows that pregnant teens are at heightened risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.⁷ Integrating therapy within parenting programs ensures that routine mental health checks for teen moms and dads become part of the standard of care – not an afterthought. With assessments, mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, and PTSD can be caught early on.

Promoting Positive Parenting

Parenting classes for teen mental health can provide teens with the tools required to manage pregnancy and improve the outcomes for their child. Mental health resources in parenting classes give young parents access to:

Coping tools
Emotional regulation techniques
Stress management strategies

These services are especially critical for promoting secure parent-child bonds, which are often affected when teen caregivers feel overwhelmed or unsupported. Research shows that positive parenting that promotes secure parent-child attachment is linked to a wide range of positive emotional and social outcomes in children.⁸

Preventing Adverse Outcomes

Psychological support for teen parents plays a preventive role. Programs that offer early intervention can reduce risks of negative health outcomes for children, including:⁹

Low birth weight
Cognitive delays
Long-term behavioral concerns

Research also shows that giving pregnant teens nurse-led psychological support at home can also lead to higher cognitive-related skills in their children later down the line.10

Breaking the Cycle of Poor Mental Health in Parenting Programs

Holistic care for teen moms and dads doesn’t just benefit one generation – it disrupts cycles of poverty, chronic stress, and poor health outcomes. Support programs for young parents that include youth parenting and therapy services empower teens to create more stable, emotionally safe environments for their families. Support also helps to remove the stigma attached to teen pregnancy.¹¹

How to Include Mental Health Support Systems in Teen Parenting Programs

Integrated mental health support is a foundational part of any effective teen parenting program. At Mission Prep, this means providing wraparound care that doesn’t just address parenting tasks but helps young people feel seen, safe, and emotionally equipped to raise their children. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Early Screening and Tailored Planning

Every teen at Mission Prep receives a comprehensive mental health assessment upon intake. This screening helps clinicians identify needs related to mood, trauma history, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts – ensuring no one slips through the cracks. From there, an individualized care plan is built around their unique emotional and developmental stage.

Evidence-Based Therapy Options

Teen parents need more than advice – they need tools. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and mindfulness-based interventions to help teens process stress, improve emotional regulation, and build a stronger bond with their baby are all part of the treatments available.

Research shows that CBT can promote pregnancy empowerment in teens, which includes enhanced interactions with others, independence, and a sense of self-sufficiency.¹² Additional research indicates that IPT is effective in treating depression in pregnant teens.¹³

Parenting Skills With Mental Health in Mind

An interesting study of the PRERAYMI program (Promoting Responsiveness, Emotion Regulation and Attachment in Young Mothers and Infants) indicated that emotional regulation and attachment repair counseling for teen mothers improves:

Emotional attunement,
Co-regulation skills, and
Attachment repair

The study tracked pregnant teens and new teen mothers over six months while receiving therapy, and concluded that teen mothers improved their sensitivity and controlling style from months three to six, while infants increased their co-operative style during the same period.¹⁴

Emotional regulation, attachment repair, and stress tolerance are built into parenting education sessions. These classes go beyond diaper changes and routines. They equip teens to navigate conflict, express needs without shame, and build emotional safety for themselves and their children.

Family Systems and Co-Parenting Support

Many teen parents live within multigenerational households or share parenting duties with another adolescent. Mission Prep offers communication-focused co-parenting support, trauma-informed family sessions, and practical guidance on creating stability in complex environments.

Culturally Responsive Care

Mental health support must reflect the reality of each teen’s background – culturally, religiously, and beyond. Mission Prep delivers tailored services with respect, empathy, and adaptability, supporting young parents from military families, immigrant backgrounds, and marginalized communities.

Peer-Led Groups and Emotional Anchoring

Emotional growth often happens in the community. Peer support groups led by trained facilitators, where teen parents can share, relate, and feel less alone are recommended as part of our teen pregnancy care approaches. These groups reduce shame, normalize emotional struggle, and create a foundation of mutual support.

Partnerships With Schools to Include Mental Health in Parenting Programs

Schools can play a vital role in identifying and supporting teen parents with mental health needs, providing access to counseling services and resources. Mission Prep can partner with schools to provide relevant care and advice as needed.

Contact Mission Prep for Youth Therapy and Parenting Services

When a teen is navigating pregnancy or new parenthood, support makes all the difference. At Mission Prep, we work with teens and families to offer care that goes beyond the basics. Our programs include therapy, parenting education, trauma-informed support, and tools to strengthen the emotional connection between parent and child.

Whether your teen needs help managing anxiety, rebuilding trust, or learning how to co-parent in a healthy way, we’re here. Every care plan starts with a conversation—and we tailor support to match what your teen actually needs.

Get in touch with us today to learn more about effective youth parenting and emotional wellness.

References

Mercurio, E., García-López, E., Morales-Quintero, L. A., Llamas, N. E., Marinaro, J. Á., & Muñoz, J. M. (2020). Adolescent brain development and progressive legal responsibility in the Latin American context. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 627. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00627/full
EXPLORING BARRIERS. (n.d.). Addressing the mental health needs of parenting teens. Chop.edu. Retrieved June 19, 2025, from https://policylab.chop.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/publications/PolicyLab-Issue-Brief-Addressing-Mental-Health-Needs-Parenting-Teens.pdf
Phipps, M. G., Raker, C. A., Ware, C. F., & Zlotnick, C. (2013). Randomized controlled trial to prevent postpartum depression in adolescent mothers. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 208(3), 192.e1–192.e6. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4386618/#:~:text=Approximately%20400%2C000%20births%20in%20the,than%20non%2Dperinatal%20adolescents2
Dwihestie, L. K., Ningrum, A. H. P. S., & Agustin, K. (2025). Global trends and future directions of anxiety in adolescent pregnancy: A bibliometric analysis. BIO Web of Conferences, 152, 01030. https://www.bio-conferences.org/articles/bioconf/pdf/2025/03/bioconf_ichbs2025_01030.pdf
Muzik, M., Ads, M., Bonham, C., Rosenblum, K. L., Broderick, A., & Kirk, R. (2013). Perspectives on trauma-informed care from mothers with a history of childhood maltreatment: A qualitative study. Child Abuse & Neglect, 37(12), 1215–1224. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3870043/
Rosado, D. (n.d.). Identity development, social support development, and motherhood [Honors thesis, University of Central Florida]. Ucf.edu. Retrieved June 19, 2025, from https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1086&context=honorstheses
Lesinskienė, S., Andruškevič, J., & Butvilaitė, A. (2025). Adolescent pregnancies and perinatal mental health—Needs and complex support options: A literature review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(7), 2334. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11989341/
Frosch, C. A., Schoppe-Sullivan, S. J., & O’Banion, D. D. (2021). Parenting and child development: A relational health perspective. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 15(1), 45–59. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7781063/
Hu, Y., Zhang, J., & Zhang, J. (2014). Maternal psychological distress and adolescent well‑being: A longitudinal study. BMC Public Health, 14, Article 343. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4122995/
Kitzman, H., Olds, D. L., Knudtson, M. D., Cole, R., Anson, E., Smith, J. A., Fishbein, D., DiClemente, R., Wingood, G., Caliendo, A. M., Hopfer, C., Miller, T., & Conti, G. (2019). Prenatal and infancy nurse home visiting and 18-year outcomes of a randomized trial. Pediatrics, 144(6), e20183876. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6889968/
Baney, L., Greene, A., Sherwood-Laughlin, C., Beckmeyer, J., Crawford, B. L., Jackson, F., Greathouse, L., Sangmo, D., Ward, M., & Kavaya, S. (2022). “It was just really hard to be pregnant in a smaller town . . .”: Pregnant and Parenting Teenagers’ perspectives of social support in their rural communities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(24), 16906. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416906
(n.d.-c). (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2025, from https://jmrh.mums.ac.ir/article_18701.html
Miller, L., Gur, M., Shanok, A., & Weissman, M. (2008). Interpersonal psychotherapy with pregnant adolescents: Two pilot studies. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, 49(7), 733–742. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18492043/
Riva Crugnola, C., Ierardi, E., Albizzati, A., & Downing, G. (2016). Effectiveness of an attachment‑based intervention program in promoting emotion regulation and attachment in adolescent mothers and their infants: A pilot study. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, Article 837. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/295812694_Effectiveness_of_an_Attachment-Based_Intervention_Program_in_Promoting_Emotion_Regulation_and_Attachment_in_Adolescent_Mothers_and_their_Infants_A_Pilot_Study