The mental health matters of teens are often overlooked in the search for colleges. Yet, according to a recent WebMD/Medscape study, mental health issues (including anxiety, stress, mood disorders, depression, and bipolar disorder) are on the rise for teens. The time to speak with a teen counseling professional is now. College is an exciting and stressful time, arming teens with the tools to tend to their mental health are important. For those in West Side Cleveland, schedule a consultation with us. We’re here to help.
According to WebMd: When it comes to talking to their children about mental health issues, about half of parents — 52% — mentioned anxiety and 43% discussed depression. The percentage is higher in parents whose teen had been diagnosed with a mental health disorder: 71% of parents discussed possible anxiety, and 64% talked about depression.
“If your child is already in therapy, don’t assume it’s going to go away once they start school. Assume the opposite,” says Cora Collette Breuner, MD, a professor of pediatrics and adolescent medicine at Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington.
Parents of teens without a diagnosed mental health condition started these discussions at a lower percentage: 31% talked about depression and 42% about anxiety.
This survey stresses the need for all parents — not just those whose kids have problems — to discuss mental health concerns, experts say.
“It’s going to touch your family’s life, and certainly your child’s life in one way or another,” says Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, PhD, director of the College Mental Health Program at McLean Hospital. “It does so much to decrease stigma and fear and anxiety just to talk about these issues.”
A Growing Problem
Several surveys show there are more mental health problems among teens. Experts interviewed said it isn’t clear whether these numbers reflect a surge in mental health problems or just more openness by young people to talk about them.
Whatever the cause, it’s critical for parents and doctors to focus on kids’ emotional well-being years before college. About 75% of all mental health conditions start by age 24. College falls right in the middle of this vulnerable time.
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