Guest Commentary: The adolescent mental health crisis

Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by Rochelle Ryan, Rachel Wahle and Melissa Baker, who all are employed by Jewish Family & Children’s Services.

In the years following the pandemic, many people are struggling with their mental health.

But according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teens are faring the worst. The numbers show that 4 out of every 10 U.S. high schoolers experienced persistent sadness or hopelessness — nearly a quarter considered attempting suicide.

Impacted the most are teen girls and LGBTQ youth, with almost 60% reporting feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness. Among girls, 30% said they seriously considered attempting suicide, double the rate among boys and up almost 60% from the past 10 years. Of LGBTQ students, nearly half stated they had seriously considered a suicide attempt.

In an interview with The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general, attributed adolescent mental health as “the defining public health crisis of our time.”

How should we be thinking about adolescent mental health today? What are some of the causes driving this crisis? How can parents help their teens navigate this difficult developmental period?

In years past, other generations have faced mental health challenges, but according to Clinical Site Director of the JFCS West Valley Healthcare Center Rochelle Ryan, “While the current generations may have more connection because of technology, they have fewer in-person interactions. They have not experienced life without the internet or social media. Children play video games with friends from different locations instead of in person.”

The good news is that there appears to be less stigma around teens reaching out for mental health services than in previous decades.

“Our clinicians often report that their new clients were encouraged to start therapy by their peers. This, in addition to schools focusing on mindfulness strategies and coping skills and more celebrities opening up about their use of therapy, continue to decrease the stigma around mental health,” says Melissa Baker, director of integrated health for the JFCS Glendale Healthcare Center.

There are many driving forces behind the current mental health crisis. The day-to-day experiences of teens have changed and social media makes the current generation feel pressured to be a certain way and achieve certain things in life. They can have unrealistic perceptions of what life is really like. They do not yet have a filter to understand that what is portrayed online and through social media is not always real.

What keeps young people from seeking help?

“For some families, seeing a therapist is viewed as airing your dirty laundry,” adds Baker. “Adults can also minimize the severity of kids’ mental health concerns. They may think they aren’t important enough to warrant outside help (like peer drama) or believe that a teen’s emotional expression is attention-seeking and not genuine.”

Lack of knowledge about mental health and the available services; being self-conscious about how their peers will view them; seeing an adult they don’t know or trust; and the cost of services (monetarily and time spent) can also play a role.

Telling the difference between normal teen angst and signs of anxiety or depression

All people experience anxiety and depression. When it becomes chronic, it’s no longer a temporary fear, sadness or worry but something that doesn’t go away and gets worse over time.

To a parent, teen anxiety could look like perfectionism, a sudden drop in grades, and changes in behavior, such as being irritable all the time or no longer wanting to participate in activities or social events.

“If parents notice decreased functioning in their teen’s major life areas such as school or personal relationships, they should pay attention,” says Ryan.

“Anxiety and depression can show as behavioral changes that do not resolve over time versus short situational symptoms or behavioral changes.”

Behavioral health experts say listening is the best way to recognize normal angst and when it may be more. Teens often come right out and tell adults they’re not doing well. In an attempt to be positive, adults sometimes provide general support and encouragement, unintentionally minimizing the severity of the teen’s feelings.

What steps should parents take if they’re worried that their teen might be experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts?

If there is an urgent concern about someone thinking about suicide, call the Suicide Hotline at 988. If you believe someone is an active danger to themselves, call 911. If there is no immediate concern, talk to your teen about their feelings and don’t dismiss them.

Monitor their social media, medications, and safely store (lock up) items they could use to harm themselves, such as firearms, medications, chemicals, and alcohol. Contact a local mental health professional for assessments and support services and follow through with any appointments. A good way to find a mental health professional is to call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask for more information or a referral.

What else can parents do to help a young person’s mental health?

According to Rachel Wahle, JFCS director of case management and health navigation services, the best thing parents can do for their child’s mental health is to talk to them and ask questions.

“Encourage them to tell you how they’re feeling and really listen to them. We tend to want to fix problems for our kids, but that can make them feel like we aren’t listening or taking them seriously. Instead, offer to talk through and brainstorm ways they can move forward. Work together to come up with options and possible solutions. This will increase their ability to analyze and problem-solve independently as an adult, instead of relying on others to be the fixer.”

JFCS provides behavioral health social services and primary medical care to children, families and adults. For more information about medical, behavioral and counseling services for adolescents, visit https://www.jfcsaz.org/.