Specialist mental health programs for young people are sensitive to their developmental and social needs. They adapt treatment programs and modalities to each young person’s developmental stage, whether that’s childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood.
When a young person experiences mental health problems, many parents are unsure where they can find the most effective support. Parents often think that young
While eating disorders are complex conditions, they are treatable. With the right support, young people can recover and enjoy a healthy, fulfilling future. Treatment providers who have experience working with autistic people can adapt therapy sessions and other approaches to ensure that treatment is comfortable and welcoming for each individual.
Research has found a two-way relationship between procrastination and self-esteem. Low self-esteem causes young people to procrastinate more while procrastinating also decreases young people’s self-esteem (and vice-versa). This can lead to negative (or positive) cycles of self-esteem and procrastination.
Adolescence is a key period of development, growth, and change. This means that getting an adequate amount of sleep during this time is especially important. However, while scientists agree that adolescents need 8-10 hours of sleep to maintain proper health, many young people frequently sleep fewer hours.
Social exclusion and peer rejection can have serious consequences for young people’s mental health, leading to emotional and behavioural problems and low self-esteem. Social exclusion that is based on prejudice or bias is particularly damaging.
Research shows that young people who are bullied are more likely to develop several mental health disorders, including eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. Bullying is associated with serious symptoms of mental health problems including violent behaviour, self-harm, and psychosis.
Temporary separation from parents in early childhood can have a big effect on a young person’s development. It can cause psychological stress with a lasting impact and affect the way a young person forms and maintains relationships in the future.
For a parent, a child’s academic achievement might seem like a simple and easy measure of their well-being. You might assume that a strong performance in academics is underpinned by stable mental health, self-confidence and self-esteem, and supportive relationships with friends.
Our minds and our guts are closely connected. The gut’s microbiome, a community of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live in the digestive system, synthesises many of the neurotransmitters (hormones) that regulate our mood, stress, and sleep. A healthy microbiome is linked to better mental health, a stronger immune system, and better digestion.
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.
