Navigating the landscape of teenage mental health
Discover how to support teenagers as they manage the challenges of adolesence, including stress, trauma, social pressures, and technology, with research-backed guidance in this free eBook.
Download this eBook to learn:
- Guidance for recognizing and responding to signs of emotional exhaustion and burnout from mental health experts at Mass General Brigham
- Insights into the effects of trauma and adverse childhood experiences on mental, behavioral, and emotional development
- Strategies for creating a balanced approach to academics, activities, relationships, and downtime
- Resources and tools to support positive mental health, self-care, and open communication
Developed in partnership with The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital
The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital is a free, web-based educational resource focused on the mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being of children, teens, and young adults. It provides evidence-based content for parents and caregivers through blogs, podcasts, and videos to promote resilience and reduce mental health stigma.
"Kids don’t have to be great at everything. You can have your area of strength and let other areas go. We can’t do everything, so we must take kids off the hot seat and let them choose areas of life they wish to explore."
Eugene (Gene) Beresin, MD, MA, The Clay Center for Young Health Minds at Mass General Hospital
Navigating the landscape of teenage mental health
Parents can reduce performance anxiety by easing pressure
Some kids are encouraged, if not required, to take AP and honors courses, participate in community service, partake in sports and extracurricular activities, or play a musical instrument. But parents need to understand that kids shouldn’t be overscheduled. Parents can sit down with their teenagers to discuss what’s realistic, where they can cut back, and where to add time to decompress.
Download the eBook to learn how parents can strike a balance between encouraging achievement and allowing space for rest and self-discovery.
Frequently asked questions
Burnout is generally viewed as emotional exhaustion, detachment, feelings of isolation, and worthlessness. Kids who feel burnt out often withdraw from family and friends. If they can't articulate the stress, they might complain of physical symptoms such as headache, stomachache, or grinding their teeth.
Discover how parents can help teens build coping strategies before stress becomes too overwhelming in the Navigating the landscape of teenage mental health eBook.
Parents can have a conversation that helps their child understand the function of their behavior and what the goal is. To start the conversation, ask:
- Are you doing this activity because you enjoy it or because it’s a requirement?
- Why are you exploring a new interest or skill?
- Are you doing this to connect with friends?
Learn more about how parents can encourage a balance between extracurriculars and downtime for mental health in the Navigating the landscape of teenage mental health eBook.
Research shows notable changes to the brain when they compare kids who have experienced significant stress and traumas to kids who haven’t.
These kids are at an increased risk of:
- Physical injury
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Involvement in sex trafficking
- Maternal and child health problems (teen pregnancy, fetal death)
- Chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease
- Cancer
- Suicide
- Difficulty forming healthy and stable relationships
- Depression
You can learn about the six guiding principles to a trauma-informed approach for parents and caregivers in the Navigating the landscape of teenage mental health eBook.
Parents need to listen and create a safe space to talk and have frequent conversations in between the cracks. To foster well-being and encourage self-care, caregivers can encourage:
- A good diet
- Exercise
- Sleep hygiene
- No blue screens a couple hours before going to bed
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Creative arts
Dive more into how parents can support teens who are grappling with a sense of insecurity about the world around them in the Navigating the landscape of teenage mental health eBook.
Social issues have a huge impact on teens’ mental health. Today, young people are more socially conscious of the world that they’re inheriting than any other generation.
In particular, research shows inequality for victims of discrimination:
- One out of every four are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental disorder
- Twice as likely to develop severe psychological distress
- 26% higher risk for having poor overall health
- Higher use of drugs such as amphetamines, marijuana, tranquilizers, barbiturates, or cocaine
Learn more about the impacts social issues have on teens' mental health in the Navigating the landscape of teenage mental health eBook.
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Get your copy of the Navigating the landscape of teenage mental health eBook
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