The Current State of Teen Mental Health
Raising a teenager is hard, but being a teen these days is much, much harder.
Did you know that adolescents are one of the most affected populations in terms of mental health problems and illness, yet are often left behind because of a lack of access to services and support? We're breaking down the facts about teen mental health, and how parents and communities can support this vulnerable age group.
What is the current state of mental health in teens?
THE FACTS:
There are an estimated 1.2 million children and youth in Canada that are affected by mental health concerns.
Unfortunately, of those millions of children, only 20% receive adequate support or treatment.
The reason for these staggering statistics is that 70% of mental health problems occur in youth or adolescents.
Since 80% of this demographic is not receiving support or help, it worsens once they reach adulthood and navigate the adult healthcare system.
(YMHC, 2019)
60% of teenage girls and 70% of LGBTQ2S+ students are particularly affected when it comes to feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
(CBC, 2023)
In Canada, First Nations youth die by suicide 5 to 6 times more often than non-Indigenous youth.
Boys are more likely to die by suicide than girls.
Girls are more likely to attempt suicide than boys.
(UNICEF, 2018)
Depression, anxiety, and behavioural concerns are leading causes of mental health concerns among adolescents, and death by suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for those aged 15 – 29.
(WHO, 2021)
What are the signs of mental health challenges in teens?
When is it more than normal ‘teen’ behaviour?
Various mental health concerns can affect teens, so signs and symptoms can look different in everyone and are less or more severe depending on what they are specifically struggling with. Many may say these behaviours sounds like typical 'teenage behaviour’ but if your teen is showing the following signs and symptoms for an extended period of time, they are likely experiencing some mental health concerns.
You are the ones that see your kids every day, so noticing behavioural changes at home is the best place to start. Seeking support from medical professionals is a good idea if you see the following signs and symptoms becoming more prolonged or more severe.
Some more common symptoms are:
Your child is sad or irritable
They are less interested in activities they typically enjoy
They are experiencing a disrupted sleep schedule
These are some more significant signs to watch out for:
Social exclusion/social withdrawal
Educational difficulties
Risk-taking behaviours
Physical health changes
Regarding a child's safety, there are also separate signs to look out for. When it comes to the risk of suicide or self-harm, risk factors can include:
Harmful use of alcohol and/or other drugs
Abuse or trauma
Stigma against help-seeking
Digital / social media
Why is it important for parents to look for these signs?
Mental health is critical.
Mental health affects not only physical health, but untreated mental health concerns can interfere with learning, socialization, self-esteem, and other essential aspects of child development that can have repercussions that last many years.
Signs of self-harm and suicide must be taken seriously, as the statistics are quite concerning for youth in Canada. After accidents, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-24.
(WHO, 2021)
Paying attention and looking for signs of poor mental health allows our kids to get the help they need. If your child were coughing or had a fever, we would not hesitate to go to the doctor, buy medicine, and implement a restful regime to feel better. The same goes for mental health. It is better to overreact than underreact.
It also is essential to listen to your kids and ask them what they need. Jumping to conclusions or ‘taking over’ may make them feel like you are not listening or do not take their concerns seriously. Meeting them where they are and asking if everything is okay can make a big difference in helping them.
What kind of challenges are teens going through that impact their mental health?
ACADEMIC / PERFORMANCE PRESSURES
Teens face enormous pressure in many areas, particularly academically. In high school, teens look at what they want to do in the future (aka survive as an adult in the real world) and feel the pressure (whether self-imposed or from outside expectations) to perform at a high level in order to reach these goals.
These pressures can include: getting high grades, volunteer hours, sports achievements, part-time jobs, and other ‘application-worthy’ essentials to get into their ‘choice school’. Trying to meet these ‘expectations’ can lead to overwhelming feelings, high stress, and anxiety… especially if they ‘don’t really know what they want to do with their life.’
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
Let’s face it, financial stressors impact the entire family and as much as we parents would like to shelter our kids from the struggle of making ends meet, sometimes that’s not always possible.
Studies have shown that when parents lose their jobs, it causes teens added stress and anxiety.
Although it may not be the teen's job to provide for their families or support their family financially, being around conversations involving money or seeing the stress their parents are going through does impact a teen’s mental health.
(APA, 2023)
SOCIAL MEDIA PRESSURES
More and more research is telling us that social media influence causes stress, anxiety and depression in our teens - particularly girls.
According to a Psychology of Popular Media study, teens and young adults who reduced social media use by 50% over three weeks reported feeling better about their physical appearance.
This study was conducted on young adults aged 17-25 who already reported symptoms of anxiety or depression.
The research suggests that limiting social media use may reduce "people's engagement in unfavourable comparisons and exposure to unattainable beauty standards, leading to a healthier body image."
(Globe & Mail, 2023)
How are these mental challenges affecting teens?
Canadian teens have expressed that the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the mental health and well-being of themselves and their peers. Unfortunately, while this is reported on and expressed, many teens continue to fall through the cracks.
Although lockdowns and online school prevented stressors such as bullying, they did not allow kids and teens to connect in person with friends and peers in traditional ways, such as classroom discussions and sports teams. One teen quoted in a 2023 CBC report said that:
“ …Teens lost so much of what we were hoping our life to be. ”
Before the pandemic, and continuing today, many teens turned to social media of various kinds, which according to CBC, has brought significant stressors to teens and their families. This trend is only worsening, and the impact is significant regarding self-esteem, bullying, and wanting to 'fit in'.
Geertika Jeyaganesha, a 17-year-old student from Markham, believes that more services are needed to support teens. Therefore, she created her organization to help fill the gaps where her peers needed support.
She also stated that "the primary problem with youth mental health is that the idea of having poor mental health is so normalized", while her organization aims to have teens support one another and remove themselves from a negative or deteriorating mindset.
(CBC, 2023)
How can parents support their teens?
First and foremost is listening!
As parents, when your child is having a challenging time, it is easy to go into the problem-solving mindset. However, this is not always helpful! It is important to not just react to negative comments but also acknowledge their emotions.
For example, if your child comes to you and states, "Everyone hates me at school." This is often answered with, "That is not true, honey. Don't say that." Instead, try acknowledging the emotion that the young person is experiencing.
(Parents Canada, 2023)
Validation is not agreement, nor is it meant to replace it. By responding with something like, "It sounds like you are feeling lonely at school. That must be hard." Pausing, listening, and following up with an open-ended question is an approach that lets our kids feel like they matter.
(Parents Canada, 2023)
Understanding that mental and physical health are equally important will make kids want to reach out to their parents for support By creating non-judgmental safe spaces will allow kids to speak openly about how they are feeling and will allow them to explain their feelings before it is too late.
Lastly, ensuring your mental health is prioritized sets a good example for your kids. Kids pay attention to what their parents do and can notice your behaviour. If you are struggling and not taking action, kids may think that is the usual way to manage stress, depression, or anxiety.
(Harvard, 2023)
What still needs to be done?
Future impacts at this point are unknown, but it is necessary to address the needs of teens with mental health concerns now. There is an overall recommendation that schools should be a space for students to learn tools and strategies to process emotions and recognize mental health concerns when they arise. However, training and funding are needed to support teens and their well-being.
(CBC, 2023)
However, we can start with early detection and treatments. The United Nations (UN) recommended that avoiding an institutionalized and medicated approach would be key to making mental health support accessible. Their recommendation included non-pharmacological approaches - such as counselling and groups- to support teens.
(UN, 2021)
Other Canadian organizations are also voicing what they believe should be adopted moving forward to target teen mental health. For example, BGC Canada (formerly the Boys and Girls Club of Canada), along with the Canadian Mental Health Association, is encouraging more funding for mental health support through health care, as many young people seeking services found it difficult to receive help.
(CBC, 2023)
What can therapy do to help?
Therapy can provide a safe space for teens to explore topics they may not feel comfortable sharing with their parents. Therapy can also change how teens view themselves; therapists can supply tools and strategies to find the root cause of feelings and behaviours in a safe, non-judgmental space.
Therapy can also play a role in supporting a teen through mental health at any stage. One great thing about therapy is that it meets the individual where they are. It is better to begin early and create a plan to prevent any concerns from worsening. Then, should anything change, or you feel a change in your mental health, you have the support that is there for when you need it, versus starting from the beginning.
Therapy is a supportive practice to ensure you have the right tools and resources when needed, not when it is too late. This is important for teens' well-being, mental health, and future health so that serious concerns can be mitigated or avoided altogether.
Whatever it is, we’re here for you.
Life is uncertain. Jobs are stressful. Parenting is hard. Relationships take work. Families can be dysfunctional. And sometimes, love hurts. When you’re confronted by feelings, events, or issues that are making your life challenging, it’s okay to ask for some help.
SOURCES
Mental Health Top Concern for Canada’s Youth – UNICEF Canada
Youth Mental Health Reality: The Difference We Can Make - YMHC
Children and Youth Mental Health in Canada – Canadian Institute for Health Information
Top 4 Challenges Parents Experience While Supporting Teen Mental Health – Parents Canada
The mental health crisis among children and teens: How parents can help – Harvard Health Blog
