Mental illness can occur at any age, but for many people, problems begin during adolescence. Teens who struggle with mental illness can go on to battle these issues for the rest of their lives if they don’t receive the help they need quickly.
To provide the assistance teens need if they’re struggling and maybe even to prevent future mental illness, it’s vital to understand the causes of youth mental health issues. Learn more about the causes of psychological problems during the important teen years.
The State of Youth Mental Health
Before diving into the causes of youth mental health issues, it can help to have a clear overview of youth mental health. Teens can suffer from a number of psychological conditions, but the most common ones are:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Eating disorders
According to the World Health Organization, one in seven 10 to 19-year-olds around the world suffer from a mental health condition. These numbers continue to rise every year, especially among minorities.
Untreated mental health conditions that begin during adolescence can impact a teen’s future. They can struggle to keep up with their academics, which can result in lower grades and fewer continuing education opportunities.
Personal development also suffers, with self-esteem issues impacting relationships of all types. Potentially, teenagers with mental health concerns could also have a higher risk of developing substance use disorders and even self-harm tendencies.
1. Biological Factors
One of the most important causes of youth mental health issues is biology. Genes play a significant role. Teens who have parents with mental health issues are much more at risk of developing them, too.
Adolescence is a tumultuous time for overall development. Lots of biological changes occur, and the brain is particularly pliable, making traumatic events during teen years even more likely to leave psychological scars and trigger mental health issues.
At the same time, chemical imbalances become more prominent during adolescence. Neurotransmitters that aren’t functioning as they need to can make emotional regulation more complicated, putting a strain on the psyche.
2. Psychological Factors
There are psychological causes of youth mental health issues, too. Teenagers who experience trauma or who have adverse childhood experiences, like abuse or neglect, have a higher risk of struggling with mental illness.
Self-esteem issues rear their heads during teenage years. Youths who have developed negative thinking patterns, are perfectionists, or don’t know how to cope with stress can all quickly begin struggling with problems like depression and anxiety.
3. Social and Environmental Factors
Teens need support at home and among their peer groups. Common causes of youth mental health issues include family problems and instability at home, as well as peer pressure at school and in their friend group. Bullying also plays a role. A teen who is bullied might easily develop self-esteem issues, depression, and even substance use disorders.
Another factor is the pressure that academics place on teens. They may be worried about their grades and about their future, which adds significant stress to their lives.
They may even compare themselves to others of the same age, which is something that social media has made worse. The constant connectivity and comparison have sparked a significant rise in eating disorders in teenage girls, for example.
4. Societal and Cultural Factors
Another of the most important causes of youth mental health issues is the societal stigma present around the topics of mental health. It’s still not something many people want to talk about.
Lots of cultures don’t encourage the discussion of psychological struggles, particularly among males, which could prevent teens from asking for help. If there are issues revolving around sexuality, teens may not know who they can talk to if they assume they won’t receive support from their parents.
There may be economic factors at play, as well. Families with financial issues may not be able to offer their teens the help they need, or the teens themselves may not want to burden their families by asking for that help.
5. Physical Health and Lifestyle Factors
Teens need a significant amount of sleep. If they’re very busy with academics or extracurricular activities, they may struggle to get the rest they need. Lack of sleep impacts both emotional and cognitive functioning.
Improper nutrition is another of the most common causes of youth mental health issues. The brain and body require nutrients to continue the various developmental processes they’re undergoing. Poor nutrition impacts mood and overall health levels, making issues like anxiety and depression much more likely to occur.
Alongside poor nutrition is a lack of exercise. Exercise can help lower stress levels and can boost feel-good hormones. Teens who don’t exercise and who don’t eat well can struggle with weight issues, as well, which might impact self-esteem.
The Interplay of Multiple Factors
It’s usually a combination of these causes of youth mental health issues that will trigger a condition. A family history of mental illness and a perfectionistic personality can lead a teen to develop anxiety, for example.
Because of the interplay of all of these factors, helping teens requires a holistic approach. All aspects of their lives have to be considered, from their family history to their peer groups and beyond.
Addressing the Causes of Youth Mental Health Issues
Not all of the causes of youth mental health issues can be managed or avoided, but many of them can. One of the best ways of doing this is to encourage an environment of togetherness and positivity at school.
By ensuring that students, teachers, and staff understand what the signs of mental illness look like and that they all work to create a more supportive environment, it’s possible to help teens who are struggling. At Rachel’s Challenge, we offer programs that can teach teens, staff, and teachers how to create a safe and welcoming environment for all.
Contact Rachel’s Challenge to book an event.
