How can we help our troubled teens? expert advice on navigating these difficult years
We all want our children to grow up happy and healthy, yet anxiety and depression among young adults is at an all-time high. We investigate why – and the best way to help them navigate these difficult years
Tragedies surrounding teenage and young adult mental health are now a constant in the news. Recently, the death of Molly Russell, aged 14, highlighted issues with social media; the case of Zoe Watts, who died in a mental health unit aged
19, revealed failings in the healthcare system; meanwhile suicide rates in UK universities are at record levels.
Hardly surprising, then, that if you’re the parent or relative of a teenager or young adult, you’ll almost certainly find yourself wondering whether their mood swings are just a normal part of adolescence – or a sign of something more troubling.
Over the past eight years, teen suicides have doubled, and one in five young adults has a mental health problem – so the likelihood is that we all know someone who’s affected.
Why is this happening? Teenagers often spend far more time with their friends than their family, which can make it hard to know what they’re feeling. In some cases, they retreat into a world of gaming, which can lead to social isolation. Social media can expose them to bullies 24/7 and puts enormous pressure on young people to live up to other people’s Insta-perfect lives. This skewed reality can create a sense of failure, which may
contribute to a spiral of worthlessness, anxiety and depression – or worse.
The trouble is that even though we talk about the headlines, many of us are still uncomfortable being open about mental health within our own families or friendship groups. And even when we seek help, the response is often vastly inadequate, say experts.
Despite the rise in mental health problems, less than 1% of the NHS budget is spent on children’s mental health* and referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) can take months, adding to the stress for both young people and their families. In this year’s NHS Long Term Plan, the Government pledged an extra £2.3bn for mental health services, with a commitment to a proportional growth in funding for children’s mental health by 2023-4. It hopes to help 345,000 more children by 2022-3 and has promised to improve crisis care.
While acknowledging the difference this could make to the lives of many young people and their families, Emma Thomas, the CEO of mental health charity YoungMinds, pointed out that the vast majority of the million-plus young people with a diagnosable mental health problem are currently unable to access support from the NHS. She says, “The Government must look beyond the NHS to provide non-clinical, preventative support locally for every young person who needs it.” While we wait for these improvements, what can worried parents do? The simplest answer is to keep a discreet lookout for warning signs of poor mental health, and get help early. The sooner vulnerable teens talk to someone, the more likely they are to get better in the long-term. >>
Social media puts pressure on teens to live up to other people’s ‘perfect’ lives