Mental health issues are a very broad category of illnesses and disorders, and while warning signs are a helpful way to tell when you should pay more attention to your teen’s behavior, it’s important to note that a warning sign should never be considered a clear indication of a mental health disorder. If your teen is exhibiting any of the symptoms below, get them a referral with a mental health specialist and speak to your family doctor/psychiatrist/pediatrician.
- Extreme risk-taking behavior
- Self-harm, talking about self-harm
- Suicidal ideation and attempts
- Sudden and excessive weight loss, not eating at all, use of laxatives
- Sudden weight gain, constant snacking, overeating
- Severe mood swings, uncontrolled irritability
- Acting out violently
- Sudden moments of hyperventilation, discomfort, and panic
- Constant vocal worries about the same irrational fears
- Patterns of avoiding others or avoiding specific situations
- Socially withdrawing, no contact with others
- Prolonged sadness (for more than 2 weeks)
- Always feeling tired
- Severe insomnia
- Constant procrastination
- Unable to finish conversations, losing track of thoughts, stopping midway through sentences
- Drug and/or alcohol use, especially as a means to “self medicate” mental issues
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It can be frightening for parents when they begin to see signs of mental illness in their teen. For instance, they might see signs of depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. In fact, many parents aren’t familiar with the names of illnesses, but they might notice that their teen is sad often, sleeping a lot, or…
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