Today is “International Adolescent Mental Health Day,” which is held throughout the world to raise awareness about the mental health difficulties that teenagers may experience. According to Mental Health America, 50% of all people who may have a mental health condition in their lifetime begin to exhibit symptoms before the age of 14.
Teens’ mental health is in crisis, according to an American Psychological Association report on trends for 2023. In response to the pandemic’s new stressors and challenges, the surgeon general went so far as to declare a mental health crisis for teens. However, according to the APA, children and adolescents in the United States have been suffering since well before COVID-19 arrived. Stigma, bullying, food insecurity, violence, and puberty are just a few of the many things that can have an impact on a young person’s mental health.
Psychologists are trying to learn more about what they can do to help in every situation. New mental health recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force include regular anxiety and depression screenings for children and adolescents ages 12 to 18. These screenings can frequently be performed by the child’s pediatrician or primary care physician.