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HEADSPACE SERVICES and SUPPORT GROUPS for students

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MENTAL HEALTH IN ADOLESCENTS

All people, no matter what their age, can have mental health problems. Good mental health is important for healthy development, and research tells us that recognising and addressing problems early can help improve outcomes. Having good mental health involves:

having healthy relationships and close bonds with family and friends
managing feelings and responses in a range of situations
being able to cope with challenges
having a positive outlook
developing and having good self-esteem
being able to play, learn and be social with others

Signs and symptoms

Adolescence can be a challenging time for parents and young people, and changes in behaviour and mood are common. Knowing what’s normal and recognising the signs of social, emotional or behavioural problems in older children and teenagers can be difficult for parents. The following symptoms may be a sign of mental health concerns in a teenager, especially if you notice these issues being present most of the time and affecting your child’s ability to cope with day-to-day life at home or school:

Having trouble coping with everyday activities.
Seeming down, being frequently tearful.
Lacking motivation or interest in things they once enjoyed.
Increased irritability or aggressive behaviour.
Sleeping difficulties.
School refusal.
Avoiding social contact, withdrawing from interaction with friends.
Repeated use of drugs or alcohol.
Loss or increase of appetite.
Difficulties with attention, memory or concentration.
Self-harming behaviours.
Feelings of hopelessness or talking about death.
Paranoia (fear of something bad happening or being watched by others).
Hallucinations (seeing, feeling or hearing things that other people don’t).
Risk taking, impulsive behaviours or criminal behaviours.
Complaints of frequent physical pain, such as headache, tummy ache or backache.
Losing weight or being very anxious about weight or physical appearance.

What causes mental health problems?

The exact cause for most mental health problems is not known. Many factors combine to affect a person’s social and emotional wellbeing, including factors from their environment and factors they inherit from their family. Drug and alcohol use is a risk factor for mental health problems in teenagers. It’s important to remember that difficulties with mental health in children and teenagers are no-one’s fault, and no-one is to blame. Adolescents, particularly between the ages of 15 and 18, are at increased risk of having a mental health condition. Early adolescence is a time when young people want independence from their parents, but skills such as problem solving, decision making, and impulse control are still being learnt as the brain develops. Often, adolescence is a time of increased stress from school, family, and social pressures. Everyday challenges (eg. family breakdowns, making mistakes, bullying or a falling out with friends) may be harder to overcome during this time in a young person’s development.

How you can help

Building resilience in adolescents can help them to cope and recover more easily from difficult situations. Having strong, positive relationships and spending time with your child is key to building resilience. It is also important to encourage healthy habits. Parents can promote good mental health in their teenagers by:

Encouraging a healthy diet, exercise and adequate sleep.
Listening to concerns in a compassionate way.
Problem-solving together with your child.
Helping them to develop coping strategies for future challenges.
Showing interest in what’s happening in their life and celebrating achievements.
Encouraging talking about emotions or problems.
Spending time with your teenagers one-on-one and together as a family.

When to see a doctor

Often parents don’t feel confident in seeking help for problems with their child’s social, emotional and behavioural wellbeing. It’s important for you and your child to have support. You should speak to a professional and encourage your child to join you in seeking help if they continue to have difficulties after you have tried general strategies to help, if things do not get better or start to get worse, or the difficulties are beginning to interfere in your child’s everyday activities. A school teacher, school counsellor or GP are good starting points to help you access the right help for your child.

If your child talks about suicide or self-harm, seek help from a medical professional. If you or your child is in an emergency, or at immediate risk of harm, contact emergency services on 000.

There are many community services available if you have concerns about your child’s mental health or you’d like more information:

Your GP (doctors can make referrals to other services if required e.g. psychologist)
School teachers or school counsellor/psychologist
The RCH National Child Health Poll: Child mental health problems
Better Health Channel
beyondblue Healthy Families (mental health checklists and talking points for the whole family)
headspace (mental health information for 12–25-year-olds)
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (free call, 24-hour advice line)
Lifeline 13 11 14 (local call, 24-hour advice line)
National Home Doctor Service 13 SICK or 13 74 25 (local call)
Orygen Youth Health 1800 888 320 (free call)
Parentline Victoria 13 22 89 (local call, free advice 8am to midnight 7 days a week)
Raising Children Network
Reachout
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 (local call, free 24-hour advice line)
Suicide Line 1300 651 251 (local call, free 24-hour advice line)
Youth beyondblue 1300 224 636 (local call, free 24-hour advice line)

Article Credit # Royal Children’s Hospital

Art

Year 9 Digital Photography