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Writer's pictureYasmin Williams

How to Help with Teenage Mental Health Challenges

As a parent, it can be difficult to help your teenage child navigate their mental health. It’s important to recognise and address the challenges that come with this stage of life. Teenagers are at higher risk for depression and other mental health issues due to stress from different sources, such as school pressure, bullying, family issues, and changes in body or identity. To help provide support for your teen during this time of transition into adulthood, it's essential to understand the signs of distress and how best to help them manage these concerns.


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How to Help Teenagers with Mental Health Challenges

Types of Mental Health Challenges Teenagers Face

Common mental health issues that teenagers face include anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Anxiety can manifest itself in a variety of ways, such as social anxiety disorder or panic attacks. Depression is often marked by feelings of low self-esteem, lack of motivation, and an inability to experience pleasure. Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia are characterized by extreme dieting behaviours intended to help maintain a certain body image. Lastly, substance abuse is the misuse of drugs or alcohol in order to cope with internal distress or numb intense emotions.


Signs of mental health issues in teenagers

When it comes to young adults, there are a few key signs that can help parents and carers identify if their teen is struggling with a mental health condition. It’s important to be aware of the following behaviours:


• Withdrawal from social situations or activities they previously enjoyed

• Changes in eating habits or weight loss/gain

• Low mood and lack of motivation

• Unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse, self-harm, or risky behaviour

• Regular fatigue or difficulty sleeping

• Trouble concentrating on tasks or studying

If you notice any of these symptoms in your teen, then it’s time to consider help with their mental health.


What Can Impact Mental Health in Teenagers?

There are several factors that can affect a teenager’s mental health.


Stress

Teens often experience stress due to school pressures, bullying, and family issues. It’s important to help your teen work through these challenges and give them the support they need to manage any anxiety or depression they may be experiencing. Furthermore, with the current political and economic condition the world finds itself in, it can be hard for teenagers to cope with everything that comes their way.


Changes in Identity

This can include changes in body shape, developing sexuality, gender identity, or other aspects of their adolescent development. It is important to help teens understand that it's normal to feel confused during this time and provide support so they can talk openly about their feelings.


Social Media

Social media can have both positive and negative impacts on mental health as teens are exposed to a whole new world of peer pressure and comparison. It’s important for parents to help limit their teen’s access to social media and help them develop healthy habits of using it.


How To Help With Teenage Mental Health?

While mental health conditions can be serious, there are a number of ways that parents can help their teens cope with any issues they might be facing. Here are some tips for helping teenagers with their mental health:


• Encourage open conversations about feelings: It’s important to provide an environment where your child feels comfortable talking about their thoughts and worries without judgement or fear of repercussions. You should take the time to discuss any difficult topics you see affecting them, such as bullying or body image.


• Connect with support networks: Make sure your teen has access to appropriate help and support, such as a trusted teacher or school counsellor. Additionally, help them seek out community resources and services such as youth mental health programs or local support groups.


• Advocate for help when needed: If your teen is not responding to more informal help, you may need to consider seeking professional help from a psychiatrist or psychologist.


How Can The Self Image Institute Help?

At The Self Image Institute, we help teenagers develop a positive self-image and build resilience by using hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy helps teens gain control over their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours so that they can better cope with mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or body image concerns.


Our experienced therapists help young adults identify the core issues that are causing them distress and help them to learn relaxation techniques to help manage any negative feelings or coping strategies they may be exhibiting. Through regular appointments with our team of experts, teens can work on building healthier habits for managing stress and developing a more positive outlook on life.

At The Self Image Institute, we believe in empowering young people to take charge of their mental health and help them develop the skills they need to lead healthier, happier lives.


Conclusion

Adolescence is a time of rapid changes and it can be difficult for teens to cope with these changes. It’s important for parents and guardians to help their teenagers manage any mental health issues they may be facing. Hypnotherapy treatment is one way of finding help and at The Self Image Institute, we are dedicated to helping young adults develop a positive self-image and build resilience through this form of therapy. If you or someone you know needs help in dealing with teenage mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to contact us today on 07534448713 or yasminswiliams@gmail.com. We are here to help!

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