As we know, this month of May is known as Mental Health Awareness Month. This issue has not only affected adults but young people as well. One of the main groups being affected is young teenage girls. Many young girls are going through mental health illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and so on. If you’re a parent who has a child dealing with this, you’re probably figuring out how to help a teenager with mental health issues. Here are a few things in this post you need to know to do this.
What is Causing the Youth Mental Health Crisis?
Many experts have various opinions on the youth mental health crisis today. According to a recent CDC report in 2021, 57% of teenage girls reported experiencing persistent feelings of depression. This is an increase of 36% from the previous years. However, what are some of the reasons this is happening? Respondents in a POLITICO 2024 survey of 1,400 mental and medical health professionals shared some of the drivers behind the youth mental health crisis are social media, social isolation, and unfortunate outside events beyond their control such as school shootings, war, and climate change. A lot of the mental health professionals in this survey were also unhappy about the lack of resources they have to properly treat children and teens.
How is It Affecting Young Girls Today?
As was mentioned earlier, young teenage girls are one of the major groups that are being affected by severe mental health. Besides increasing pressure to be perfect on social media, they also face so much intense pressure to be perfect academically or to perform well in their extracurricular activities. Most young girls could also be dealing with problems in the household, perhaps separated or divorced parents. This, along with many other factors such as trauma, are some of the most common risk factors for young girls developing a mental health issue.
When Should I Worry About My Child’s Mental Health?
There are plenty of critical periods where you have to take notice of your child’s mental health. Start looking at her behavior closely. Are there any signs of it changing for you? Is your daughter the same person she has always been? Or do you notice some alarming symptoms of ongoing sadness, trouble concentrating, or doing poorly in school? If you see your daughter talk more about hurting herself to the point where she attempts to do it, it could be time to get her some professional help. But how can you deal with your daughter’s mental illness? What resources are out there in making sure she gets the help she needs?
How Do I Deal with My Mentally Unstable Daughter?
It could be a lot to deal with a mentally unstable daughter. You have to do your homework about her illness and handle her differently. It’s usually stressful dealing with a child like this. But it also could be a lot for your daughter, too. You both could cope with a plaguing mental illness by:
- Being positive and encouraging to one another. Let them know that you love them and that you’ll always be there for them.
- Seek ways to relax and have fun with your child.
- Enroll in parent training programs designed for parents with children with mental illnesses.
- Look for ways to handle stress and help you respond calmly.
- Work with your child’s school to make sure she’s getting the support she needs.
What Mental Health Resources for High School Students?
There are plenty of mental health resources for teen girls and high school students in general. Some of these are even free mental health services for youths. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health) Ending the Silence is a free 50-minute mental health program offered by many national school systems and organizations. Its purpose is to help middle school and high school students understand mental health conditions better, learn the warning signs, and seek the necessary help. You can search for a program near you by zip code through NAMI’s website.
No matter what mental illness your teen daughter is going through, there are resources out there for them. The important thing is for you and your family to take advantage of them. With time and effort, you can be able to figure out how to help a teenager with mental health issues and save their life.
Do you have a teen daughter struggling with mental health issues? Perhaps you may have a teenage niece like myself going through this? Feel free to share your experiences with this in the comments section below. As always, be sure to like or share this post with the next teenage girl you know struggling with a mental illness.
