94% of teens are online daily, a huge figure which highlights the impact that the virtual world has upon their lives. In recent years, we have all seen screen time increasing and have adapted to these changes in the supervision of our children.
When a young person experiences a mental health crisis, they may have to take a substantial amount of time out of school. This can happen because their mental health symptoms make it too difficult to navigate their school environment or because their school cannot provide the support they need to stay safe while they are there. They may also take a break from school to focus on their recovery with intensive outpatient or residential treatment.
When parents separate or divorce, it shakes the family system. Families often begin a grieving process, experiencing changing emotions like shock, sadness, or anger. Separation itself – and the events leading up to it – can sometimes be traumatic for family members, including both parents and children.
Unsurprisingly, adolescent friendships are linked to mental health. Young people with at least one friendship have higher self-worth and less depression. Those with high-quality friendships or more friends are less likely to experience emotional distress or social difficulties. Even a small number of high-quality friendships can also act as a buffer against wider social difficulties like a lack of acceptance from peers.
