Adolescent and Youth Mental Health

Adolescent and Youth Mental Health

In my coaching practice I deal a lot with adolescents between the ages of 13- 17 years. Some experts estimate that between 20-25% of adolescents will be dealing with a mental health problem at any one point in time.

The ages of 13-17 years is hugely important to an individual's development. You have physical changes happening and then you have different pressures to deal with (e.g., academia, fitting in, romantic relationships etc). If you can get this time in your life right, then it sets you up for later in life. It can really make or break you as an individual.

Depression and Anxiety are the two common ones mental health issues that adolescents are generally suffering from. One in four or one in five high school students would be dealing with either depression or anxiety at any given time. It really is that common and this is a reflection of the broader society as well.

It is quite a stressful time for students - high school and adolescence. Its unrelenting. In Yr eight & nine you are dealing with hormones and fitting in, being liked and even romantic relationships. You have this journey that you have to go through but you don't have a map to follow. By the time you get to Yr 11 & 12, you have the academic pressures on you as well. Throw into the mix formals and pressure from parents, the constant comparison to peers and general lack of life experience to draw upon, make this a very stressful time for adolescents.

An important thing for parents to do is to give their children space and not to crowd them. It is a trap that most parents fall into cos they want to help out their children, they see them struggling a bit, they are doing what any good parent would do. Sometimes, taking a step back and letting their son or daughter come to them is the best thing that they can do. Adolescents are amazing at problem solving and if they have a problem they will find a way around it or seek the help that they need.

It really it is about communication. Let's face it, they are not the best communicators going around. There is this tendency for adolescents to think that they are the only ones dealing with their problem. I remember when I was in Year 8 and 9, I wasn't the best communicator with the different issues I was facing. I remember talking to my mother about some of the issues I was dealing with two years later. She had no idea what I was going through

And there is help out there! There are heaps of different people out there to help you get through this time in your life, some who have had similar experiences. For example; Psychologists, for me it was a tutor and also talking with friends and family. So there is a heap of support out there and you don't have to go at it alone!