Around the world, one in seven 10 to 19-year-olds experience mental health issues. Mental health concerns in children and teens can be as debilitating as in adults, affecting their academic progress, their relationships, and their overall well-being.
One of the most important tools schools and communities at large have to help struggling youths is to offer education on mental health and awareness of the risks of leaving illnesses untreated. Youth mental health issues can impact children and teens of all ages. Learn about the most common issues and how to offer help.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stressors, but when it results in excessive fear and worry, it becomes an anxiety disorder.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder affects around 0.09% of all teenagers. This is a condition in which a child or teen experiences excessive worry about everyday situations and issues. Common symptoms include:
- Sleep problems
- Muscle aches and pains
- Fatigue
- Frequent stomach aches or headaches
- Lack of concentration problems
- Refusing to go to school
- Inability to relax
- Being irritable
- Constant worry
Youth with GAD can struggle to go to school, and the worry can become so powerful it interferes with schoolwork. Without receiving the right care, the youth has the risk of developing depression and self-harm tendencies.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder is another of the most common youth mental health issues. It involves feeling persistent fear of being scrutinized by others. Symptoms include:
- Feeling uncomfortable around other people
- Avoidance of public places or social situations
- Being embarrassed when speaking with others
- Difficulty having a normal conversation with others
- Difficulty making friends
- Worrying for days before a public event
- Fearing being embarrassed
- Having stomach aches after being with others
Social anxiety doesn’t go away on its own. It can affect the youth’s self-confidence and self-esteem, and it can make forming and maintaining friendships very difficult.
Panic Disorder
Children and teens with panic disorder have repeated moments of intense fear that can result in physical shock. The symptoms are:
- Dizziness
- Racing heartbeat
- Intense fearfulness
- Shaking or trembling
- Sense of unreality
- Shortness of breath
Panic disorder can severely affect a child’s daily functioning and their development. Children may try to avoid situations where they could get a panic attack, and that includes school.
Depression
Depression is experiencing a constant feeling of sadness and a loss of interest, which prevents children and teens from doing their normal activities.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
MDD impacts everything from energy levels to thoughts and can affect eating and sleeping patterns.
Common symptoms in children and teens include:
- Feelings of not being good enough
- Lasting feelings of sadness
- Low self-esteem
- Decrease in energy levels
- Sleeping problems
- Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or despair
- Feelings of wanting to die
- Changes in weight and appetite
- Sensitivity to failure or criticism
- Physical complaints like headaches and stomach aches
- Irritability
MDD can prevent a child from enjoying their life, building a social life, and focusing on academic performance.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)
PDD is a long-term and continuous form of depression. Symptoms include:
- Poor concentration
- Low self-esteem
- Sleep problems
- Appetite changes
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Trouble making decisions
The constant impact of PDD on mood can make it impossible for youths to keep up with schoolwork, maintain relationships, or enjoy the activities they used to love.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Someone with ADHD has differences in brain development and activity, leading to issues with concentration and attention. Symptoms include:
- Disorganization
- Fidgeting
- Heightened emotionality
- Daydreaming
- Fear of rejection
- Impulsivity
- Procrastination
- Difficulty following conversations
The problems with concentration that ADHD causes may make school difficult. Youths with ADHD could be disruptive. Impulsivity can also put them at risk of injuring themselves and others.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are behavioral conditions characterized by severe and persistent disturbances in eating patterns and distressing emotions.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia refers to self-starvation leading to weight loss that places a child or teen below the normal weight standards for their age and height. Symptoms include:
- Excessive and compulsive exercising
- Extreme fear of weight gain
- Not maintaining a healthy weight
- Continuous dieting
- Having rituals regarding food
- Denying hunger or avoiding food
- Very restrictive eating
Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. It impacts physical growth and development, and it can lead to self-harm and suicide.
Bulimia Nervosa
This eating disorder is characterized by secretly binging on food and then purging it. Bulimia can present as:
- Preoccupation with body weight
- Eating abnormally large amounts of food in one sitting
- Purging episodes
- Fasting or restricting calories between binging
Bulimia impacts electrolyte levels and could even lead to the rupturing of the esophageal wall because of repeated vomiting. The preoccupation with weight makes maintaining grades harder and could lead to other forms of self-harm, including suicide.
Substance Abuse and Addiction
Substance abuse refers to the use of drugs or alcohol in a compulsive manner. Addiction can present with:
- Mood changes
- Poor concentration
- Low energy
- Lack of interest in favorite activities
- Finding drug paraphernalia
- Changes in social behaviors
- Changes in physical aspects, including hygiene
- Weight gain or loss
Children and teens tend to abuse alcohol because it is more accessible, but they also use marijuana, painkillers, amphetamines, and more. Early intervention programs can alert youths about the dangers of substance abuse.
Self-harm and Suicidal Thoughts
More than 20% of teens have seriously considered suicide. Other self-harming behaviors can include cutting, burning, and scratching at the body, as well as exercising to the point of collapse and much more.
Youths tend to turn to self-harm because they can’t regulate their emotions. Self-harm can become suicidal ideation when the former behavior is no longer an effective coping method.
Access to Mental Health Resources
There is still a significant stigma associated with mental illness. By making it easier for youths to learn about common youth mental health issues, they can understand that getting help shouldn’t involve any feelings of shame.
Offering services that are accessible can encourage youths to reach out for guidance. In most instances, making them available in schools is the best choice.
Improving Youth Mental Health
Youth mental health issues like depression, anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, and more can have a detrimental effect on the lives of children and teenagers. By turning to Rachel’s Challenge, you can help foster a supportive and healthy environment for students.
Contact Rachel’s Challenge to book a live or digital program or to make a donation.
