While the internet can bring many positive things to the lives of young people, it can also be dangerous, with a real risk of cyberbullying, sexual victimisation, and harassment. Despite the ubiquity of the internet in adolescents’ lives, young people are often unable to navigate the internet safely.
Social support can be especially meaningful between individuals who have shared experiences of grief and loss. When someone experiences a sudden and unexpected death, the grieving process can feel very different to when a death is expected, such as following a long illness. There may not be people they are close to who have had a similar experience, and this can feel isolating and lonely.
Like adults, children and young people also benefit from the restorative power of nature. Spending more time outdoors and in green spaces may help reduce mental health symptoms among an age group that’s particuarly vulnerable to mental health disorders.
Many children and adolescents have experienced some form of trauma. They may have experienced a death or loss in their family or among friends. Or they may have experienced attachment trauma when parents have been unable to meet their needs. Some children are exposed to violence in their community or in society, especially when countries experience instability and war.
Dissociative identity disorder is a type of dissociative disorder. Teenagers may be diagnosed with dissociative disorders if they have regular experiences of dissociation that are distressing and affect their daily life. Sometimes teenagers may have dissociative experiences that are symptoms of a different mental health disorder. In this case, they may not receive a dissociative disorder diagnosis.
Finding the right family therapist is essential. There isn’t a single type of family therapy that’s right for every family, and the personality and experiences of a therapist are also important. But finding the right family therapy and therapist can help families restructure and heal, creating resilient family systems that benefit every member.
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.
Put simply, misogyny is hate against women and girls. It can be found across different parts of society: among adults and young people, at home,
Peer victimisation, often referred to as bullying, is a type of interpersonal violence or harm that takes place between friends or peers. Peer victimisation can involve physical violence, verbal insults, emotional manipulation, or relational harm, such as spreading rumours or social exclusion.
OCD is a serious mental health disorder that can have a big impact on a teenager’s daily life. However, it is treatable, and with the right support, young people can reach full recovery.
When a young person develops an eating problem, seeking professional support is the first step. It’s very difficult for someone to recover from an eating problem on their own, and treatment and support are crucial for both the young person and their family.
