What Are the Most Common Mental Health Issues in Adolescence?

What Are the Most Common Mental Health Issues in Adolescence?

Adolescent mental health is always a concern for parents and is a growing issue nationwide. Anxiety disorders and depression are the most common mental health conditions affecting adolescents. These disorders affect approximately 14% of children between the ages of 3 and 17. That is why finding comprehensive teen and adolescent therapy programs can be essential to providing a strong foundation for your child’s mental wellness.

Embrace U is a Brentwood IOP for teens and adolescents designed with your child’s needs in mind. Our adolescent therapy program utilizes evidence-based behavioral therapies such as CBT and DBT to help your child learn new coping strategies to manage symptoms and offers peer support groups to improve self-esteem and understanding.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issues in adolescence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 5.8 million children in the U.S. currently have anxiety problems, with nearly one in three teens experiencing symptoms of an anxiety disorder at some point during adolescence.

Anxiety is defined by excessive worry, fear, and stress about normal day-to-day events or things that may happen in the future. Some of the symptoms of anxiety disorders include trouble sleeping, irritability, restlessness, headaches, or stomach issues. People with anxiety disorder often experience these physical symptoms when they’re exposed to certain situations that cause them distress.

Anxiety can be treated with therapy and counseling, although medication can also be used to help manage severe symptoms. 

Contact us today to learn more about our teen and adolescent anxiety treatment program.

Depression

Depression is a mood disorder causing a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. A teenager with depression may feel sad, anxious, and irritable for prolonged periods. Depression can also cause changes in your thinking, behavior, and physical health.

Adolescent depression is not a weakness or issue to overcome with willpower and a positive attitude. It’s a mental health condition that requires medical attention. When you’re depressed, you might feel hopeless about the future or feel like things will never get better. A depressed teen may feel guilty or ashamed. They may have trouble sleeping or sleep too much. 

Symptoms of depression can vary based on the individual but may include:

  • Feeling down, sad, or hopeless most of the time
  • Persistent lack of energy
  • Mood swings
  • Changes in sleeping habits
  • Changes in eating habits
  • Isolation from friends or family
  • Loss of interest in activities
  • Negatively impacted performance at school, or in extra-curricular activities

Contact Embrace U today to learn more about our adolescent and teen depression treatment program.

How Embrace U Can Help With Mental Health Treatment

Embrace U is an intensive outpatient program that helps children aged 10-18 develop new coping skills, improve their self-confidence, learn effective communication skills, form relationships, and lead healthy, happy, productive lives. Although an IOP is an intensive, short-term program, Embrace U is designed to allow teens to attend school and participate in regular activities while receiving treatment outside of school hours.

Contact Embrace U today to learn more about how our adolescent mental health clinic in Brentwood can help your child overcome their mental health symptoms and improve their overall well-being. Are you a teen struggling with your mental health or are you a parent of a teen struggling with a mental health concern? Contact us today or call 615-656-8624 to learn how we can help improve your teen’s mental health for a happier, healthier life.

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