Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Healthcare for Adolescents
Angela Oswalt Morelli , MSW, edited by C. E. Zupanick, Psy.D.As mentioned, adolescence is a period of rapid growth. But this growth is not limited to their bodies. Adolescents also experience rapid cognitive development, emotional development, and social development. Therefore, annual physical exams should also be screening adolescents for behavioral health concerns such as depression; anxiety; or possible problems with tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that teens receive an annual depression screening at their routine physical checkup. If a doctor suspects that a youth may be struggling with an emotional problem or has a problem with substance use, the doctor can refer the family to a behavioral healthcare specialist for treatment.
Parents have an important role in identifying the early warning signs of a behavioral or emotional problem because they regularly observe their teens' behavioral and emotional patterns. If parents have observed any changes in mood or behavior that lasts more than a week or two and that is starting to affect the youth's ability to perform daily activities such as school or work, or if parents notice a change in their youth's enjoyment of social or recreational activities, these changes could signal a developing problem. Here are some examples of behavioral and emotional symptoms that should be reported to the healthcare provider:
- A mood that is frequently sad, tearful, sullen, irritable, or angry
- A lack of attention to physical hygiene (bathing, brushing teeth, etc.)
- A loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable
- Withdrawal from family and friends, becoming socially isolated
- A loss of motivation; for instance difficulty completing schoolwork and chores, or difficulty with their employer
- A significant decline in academic performance
- Frequently getting into trouble at school or frequent arguments with parents and sibling
- Changes in sleep habits: sleeping a great deal more than usual and still being tired; or sleeping a great deal less than usual and seeming energized despite the lack of sleep
- Changes in eating habits: a sudden loss of appetite or sudden increase in appetite,
- Frequent physical aches and pains that cannot be easily explained: headaches, migraines, stomachaches, back pain, etc.
- The smell of alcohol, or a chemical smell that parents do not recognize
Any of the above symptoms could indicate that a youth is struggling with some type of behavioral health problem such as depression, anxiety, drug use, or an eating disorder. Adolescence is a time of many significant changes, and teens have to deal with many situations each day that can cause a noticeable change in emotional responses. It is understandable that parents may feel confused when trying to distinguish between normal teenage behavior and unusual behavior that may indicate a more significant problem. Nonetheless, parents should be concerned about a teen who experiences sadness or irritability more days than not.
The symptoms mentioned above should not be dismissed as "just a phase," or, "just part of being a teenager." If parents notice any of these symptoms, or have any doubts about whether their teen's behaviors or moods are signs of a larger problem, they should discuss these concerns with a qualified healthcare professional. When parents muster the courage to talk to their teen's healthcare providers about their concerns for their child's emotional welfare, this communicates to the teen that emotional health is just as important as physical health. Once healthcare providers become aware of these concerns, they can refer the teen and his family to the appropriate treatment services in their community.
Resources
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Articles
- Adolescent Parenting Introduction
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Healthy Teens: Food, Eating & Nutrition During Adolescence
- Teenage Caloric Requirements
- Nutritional Guidelines for Teens
- How Can Parents Help Teens to Develop Healthy Eating Habits?
- Common Nutritional Challenges for Teenagers: Adolescent Obesity
- Common Nutritional Challenges for Teenagers: Eating Disorders and Unhealthy Dieting
- Common Nutritional Challenges for Teenagers: Adolescent Diabetes
- Adolescent Diabetes Continued
- Healthy Teens: Exercise and Sports
- Healthy Teens: Sleep
- Parenting Teens: Clothing Clashes, Housing Decisions, & Financial Management
- Parenting Teens: Skincare, Cosmetics, Tattoos, & Piercings
- Caring for Teens: Healthcare for Teens and Young Adults
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Parenting Teens: Discipline, Love, Rules & Expectations
- Parenting Teens: Discipline, Love, Rules & Expectations
- Discipline and Guidance: Early to Middle Adolescence
- Discipline and Guidance: Early to Middle Adolescence: Time Management and Family Commitments
- Discipline and Guidance: Early to Middle Adolescence: Socializing, Dating and Driving
- Discipline and Guidance: Older Adolescents and Young Adults (18 Years and Older)
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A Parent’s Guide to Protecting Teens’ Health and Safety
- A Parent's Guide to Protecting Teens' Health & Safety
- Understanding the Risks of Adolescent Drug Use: Part II
- What Can Parents Do to Prevent Teenage Alcohol and Drug Use?
- Steps Parents Can Take to Protect Their Children from Alcohol and Other Drug Use
- Steps for Parents: Part II
- Driving Privileges and Safe Driving Practices for Young Drivers
- Parental Guidelines for Teen Driving Privileges: The Family Driving Contract
- Protecting Teens from Abusive Relationships and Dating Violence
- Protecting Teens from Teenage Fights, Gang Violence, Exposure to Sexual Predators and Graphic Internet Violence
- Protecting Teens from Teenage Bullying
- Protecting Adolescent Safety: Independent Living
- Personal Security While in Public Places
- Adolescent Parenting Summary & Conclusion
- Adolescent Parenting: References & Resources
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Questions and Answers
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Book & Media Reviews
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Links
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Videos
- Feeling down? Let's talk - Prevention of suicide among adolescents
- Teen Drug Use: 2014 Monitoring The Future Survey Results
- NPW 2017: Suicide and Substance Use in Young People
- Are We Feeding Early Puberty
- Why Teens Are Attracted to Vaping
- Is My High School Student Ready for College? (And Is My College Student Ready to Go Back?)
- Advice to Parents | Drugs & College 101
- Teen Depression Screening
- Let’s talk about depression – focus on adolescents and young adults
- The Flu Shot- Who Really Gets It
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45 more
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 21: Adolescence: Biosocial Development
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 22: Adolescence: Cognitive Development
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 24: Adolescence: Summary
- Are Your Kids Addicted to Social Media?
- Is My Child Too Young to Get the HPV Vaccine?
- Do Boys Need the HPV Vaccine?
- The Perils of Adolescence
- Tackling Concussions
- Adolescent Risk-Takers: The Power of Peers
- Energy Drink Sparking More ER Visits
- Children and Social Media: What Every Parent Should Know
- Drugs: Shatter The Myths
- The Impact of Changing Social Behaviors on Teen Drug Use
- Teen Substance Use
- Youth Suicide Risk
- Take Healthy Habits to College
- What Boys Want to Know About Puberty
- Am I Normal (Girls and Puberty)
- Money Tips for Millennials
- E-Cigarette Use in Middle and High School Students
- Teens Using E-cigarettes More Likely to Start Smoking Tobacco
- Tips For Teens With Diabetes: Be Active
- Help Teens Lower Their Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
- Adolescence: Preparing for Lifelong Health and Wellness
- Back to School: A Good Night's Sleep
- How to Talk to Teens: A Developmental Approach
- Bedtime Wake Up Call
- Game Change! Focus on Families - Engaging Young Adults and Their Families
- Endocrine System
- Behavioral Health on College Campuses
- Notebook: Sexual Harassment
- Flu Shots: Young Adults Need Immunity
- Most Teens Need a Rest
- Screen Time vs. Bedtime
- What is Puberty? Decoding Puberty in Girls
- All About Boys Puberty
- Inside Puberty: What Are the Stages of Puberty?
- Puberty Explained - What Is Happening To Your Body?
- Another Reason for Teens to Eat Their Vegetables
- Dangers of E-Cigarettes
- HPV Vaccine: A Pediatrician’s Recommendation
- Healthy Weight
- Getting through to your teenager with ADHD
- Back-to-School: A Time to Think about Health & Academics
- Impact of Cyberbullying: Addressing the Needs of Children and Youth
Topics
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Addictions
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Aging & Elder Care
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Assessments & Interventions
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Career & Workplace
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Emotional Well-Being
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Life Issues
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Parenting & Child Care
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Abuse
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ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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Adoption
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Autism
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Child & Adolescent Development: Overview
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Child & Adolescent Development: Puberty
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Child Development & Parenting: Early (3-7)
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Child Development & Parenting: Infants (0-2)
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Child Development & Parenting: Middle (8-11)
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Child Development & Parenting:Adolescence (12-24)
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Child Development Theory: Adolescence (12-24)
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Child Development Theory: Middle Childhood (8-11)
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Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses
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Childhood Special Education
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Family & Relationship Issues
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Intellectual Disabilities
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Learning Disorders
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Oppositional Defiant Disorder
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Parenting
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Self Esteem
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Psychological Disorders
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Anxiety Disorders
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Bipolar Disorder
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Conversion Disorders
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Depression: Depression & Related Conditions
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Dissociative Disorders
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Domestic Violence and Rape
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Eating Disorders
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Impulse Control Disorders
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Intellectual Disabilities
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Mental Disorders
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Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
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Personality Disorders
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Schizophrenia
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Sexual Disorders
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Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
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