Whether you are an adolescent or the parent of an adolescent, it is essential not to neglect your child’s mental health. Various factors can affect your child’s mental health, and you need to take steps to ensure that they are receiving the proper treatment. If your child is experiencing depression, anxiety, or other issues, getting them help as soon as possible is essential. HealthTap brings you basic health-related knowledge, which can help you identify and answer your health queries efficiently.
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Mental health determinants
During adolescence, multiple factors impact mental health. Among these are social factors and risk factors. Identifying these factors can inform intervention strategies and help prevent the onset of mental health conditions.
Social factors include physical living and working conditions and social and community structures. Many of these conditions are modifiable. For example, access to adequate health care is associated with positive outcomes. Also, adolescents living in poor economic conditions are at higher risk of developing mental health conditions.
Adolescents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) are at higher risk of experiencing sexual risk-taking behaviors, including dating violence and engaging in unprotected sex. They are also more likely to have more lifetime sex partners.
Eating disorders
Providing effective eating disorder treatment involves a variety of interventions, from medication to psychotherapy and family involvement. Most clinical guidelines recommend an interdisciplinary team.
For example, the American Psychiatric Association’s Working Group published the American Psychiatric Guidelines for Eating Disorders. It is an excellent resource for those concerned about their children’s mental health.
One of the most important aspects of eating disorder treatment is the family’s involvement. A well-developed support system is the best predictor of recovery.
Eating disorders are one of the most common mental illnesses. A combination of risk factors predominantly causes these disorders. It’s important to know that the majority of youth recover.
Several studies have evaluated the effectiveness of various treatments. The most effective treatments involve a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and healthy diets.
Behavioral disorders
Behavioral disorders in adolescents are often overlooked, yet they have been shown to impact the individual’s health profoundly. They can be classified into conduct, anxiety, and learning disorders.
Conduct disorder is a common disorder in young people and may include a range of destructive and aggressive behaviors. Adolescents may exhibit violent outbursts, be argumentative, or refuse to obey authority figures.
Adolescents may also exhibit behavioral addiction and may need help from a mental health clinician. However, it’s also true that adolescents often misbehave for various reasons, including to test limits, assert independence and express frustration or disappointment.
An adolescent’s behavior may also be affected by several factors, including a family’s emotional health. A study in Nepal suggests that adolescents who do not feel comfortable at home have more psychosocial problems than their peers.
Suicide and self-harm
Among teens, self-harm is one of the most common coping mechanisms for painful emotions. It can also lead to severe injuries. Self-harm is also associated with mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. There are currently effective treatments for suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in adolescents.
Studies show that adolescents with strong connections with family and friends are less likely to commit suicide. Children who have good problem-solving skills are also less likely to consider suicide. These connections can help kids deal with problems in non-violent ways. Moreover, teens who spend more time on non-screen activities are less likely to report mental health problems.
A recent study by the CDC showed that up to 10 percent of teenage boys intentionally injured themselves. In addition, teens who self-harm are more likely to have tried suicide before. However, research is needed to understand whether treatment is effective for teens who attempt suicide.
Early detection and treatment
Identifying adolescent mental health conditions early is essential for preventing negative long-term consequences. Early detection may also help to reduce the emotional burden of the disease. For example, if bipolar disorder is detected early, it may be easier to treat and improve the illness course.
In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the role of emergency departments in early detection of mental disorders. We examined a sample of help-seeking adolescents to assess their risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. Several risk factors may increase the risk of developing mental health conditions, including poor school performance, social isolation, physical and sexual abuse, stress, and a lack of supportive environments.
We found that the number of emergency department accesses strongly predicted the primary outcome. Many ED visits also indicated a risk of a subsequent mental disorder. This risk was extreme for males.