Tips To Help Teens With Mental Health Problems
Mental health problems are not uncommon in teenagers. Some issues like anxiety, mood, personality, and behavioral disorders are more widespread in teenagers than adults. According to the World Health Organization, one in seven children under 18 suffer from a mental health problem. Bad parenting, dysfunctional family dynamics, negligence, delayed access to healthcare services, and other socio-economic factors affect this age group the most. According to a report, more than 10.44% of Coloradans had a drug use problem in 2021, which has since increased, especially in metropolitan cities like Denver. This is also the 7th highest in the US.
However, many minor mental health issues do not require medical assistance if parents look after their health and well-being attentively. The rest are manageable with early intervention.
The following sections discuss tips to help, guide, and care for your teen and deal with their mental health issues.
- Keep them away from drugs and smoking addiction
Smoking and illegal use of drugs have become widespread among teens. Hence, observe your child’s conduct and educate them about the harmful effects of substance abuse. Prevent your child’s association with people who smoke or use other addictive drugs. Introduce healthy withdrawal approaches. Self-restraint, mindfulness exercises, physical activities, a nutritious diet, better sleep, proper hydration, and empathic communication can help youngsters manage and control their impulses.
If self-remedies and coping strategies do not work, seek professional health. Experts in Denver, CO, claimed to have witnessed the number of kids walking in for assistance with opioid disorders increase from one per year in 2021 to two per week in 2022. Look up a Denver teen therapist who can help your child overcome severe problems. They’ll help you devise a rehabilitation plan to help your teen manage withdrawal and recover.
- Consult a psychologist
Like physical illnesses, mental health problems are also clinical conditions that need expert assistance and treatment. Consulting a psychologist is crucial if you notice unusual and concerning behavioral, emotional, and psychological changes in your child.
Many parents associate children’s habits, inclinations, and behaviors with growth-related hormonal changes. They believe such changes will subside once their teen crosses puberty. Though signs of mental health problems and growth-related hormonal, behavioral, and personality changes can interrelate and confuse, changes that worsen and last longer are concerning. Whatever the case, a psychologist can help understand and diagnose whether your child has a clinical condition or a temporary behavioral and emotional change.
- Attentive parenting and care
Engage in a heart-to-heart conversation with your teens and try to find out how they are doing in their lives. Children are more transparent than adults. They are usually unable to hide emotions like adults; you can observe emotional ups and downs, behavioral changes, and signs of mental health problems if you spend more time with them.
Hence, avoid alienation, show genuine and accommodating behavior, and connect with them. Create a conducive environment for them to open up and talk about whatever they feel and think, and make them feel heard when they take the initiative to express themselves.
A healthy parenting bond between you and your teen, love, and attention have a profound impact on psychological health. Good parenting care can safeguard them from developing many mental health issues.
- Ensure proper rest
Sleep and mental health have a direct connection. As much as mental health problems affect sleep quality, poor sleep also aggravates mental health conditions, trapping one in an overwhelming whirlpool of anxiety, sadness, and insomnia. Eventually, sleep deficiency comprises all vital organs. Chronic sleep deprivation is also a leading risk factor for several clinical health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, paranoia, psychotic episodes, mania, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and forgetfulness.
But quality sleep freshens up the mind and can offer youngsters some relief. Studies indicate that quality sleep helps alleviate mental health problems. If your teen has sleeping problems, consult their psychologist for coping strategies.
- Make them eat a healthy diet
Since children are in a growth phase, they need a nutritious diet to remain healthy. Otherwise, nutritional deficiency affects routine bodily functions and leads to long-term consequences for physical and mental health.
For instance, the vitamin B complex helps produce chemicals in the brain that uplift the mood, improve memory, and boost other cognitive functions. A deficiency thus impairs memory and promotes dementia and depression. If your child already suffers from a mental health issue, malnutrition can worsen the symptoms. Hence, focus on our teen’s dietary requirements.
- Encourage outdoor activities and sun exposure
Outdoor physical activities and exposure to the sun are beneficial for mental health. Spending time outdoors promotes secretion production, improves oxygen saturation and blood circulation, and uplifts mood. Regular sun exposure can also help alleviate sadness.
Hence, encourage your teens to spend more time outside than lounging indoors and living a sedentary lifestyle. Get them involved in activities like hiking, walking, and cycling. Spending time outside will be good for their mental health and will also distract them from indulging in harmful activities like substance abuse.
- Minimize screen time
Studies suggest that blue light from screens has harmful side effects on eyes and overall health. Late-night screen use can disturb sleep timing, secretion of sleep-inducing melatonin hormone, sleep quality, and total rest duration. If your teen struggles with mental health problems, unnecessary screen time can worsen their condition.
Poor rest at night can affect their daytime behavior. Either way, sleep deficiency has several complications for physical and mental health. Hence, minimize your child’s screen time and keep them away from smartphones, computers, or TV after the evening.
Conclusion
Teenagers are very adaptive; you can shape their mind and personality in whichever way you want. If you instill goodness, they will grow as healthy and responsible adults and vice versa. And remember that responsible parenting is more than feeding, clothing, or educating your child. You must also observe, look after, and protect their mental health. Following the tips mentioned above can be helpful in this regard.
